James Beard Semi-Finalists, 2013

http://www.jamesbeard.org/sites/default ... cebook.pdf

And just a reminder about the discussion that usually happens at this point:

jesteinf wrote:Keep in mind these are semi-finalists, not actual nominees. Basically a PR ploy for the Beard Foundation.

Cathy2 wrote:Plus in all categories, you can nominate yourself by filling out an application and paying the entry fee.

Nevertheless, I am happy to see Paul Fehribach, chef and co-owner of Big Jones, on the list.

Nice to see some names I hold in high esteem on the list. It'll be interesting to see who makes it through to the round of finalists, which will be announced on March 18.

=R=

Only 3 Michigan chefs and no restaurants. .

Kit

Meet the 2013 America's Classics:

Any prior mentions on LTH are linked to.

C.F. Fats in Washington, D.C.
Frank Fat's in Sacramento
Keens Steakhouse in NYC
Kramarczuk's in Minneapolis
Prince's Hot Chicken Shack in Nashville

http://www.jamesbeard.org/blog/awards-w ... s-classics

Finalists/Noms here.

Notable Chicago items:

Outstanding Bar Program: The Aviary and The Violet Hour

Best Chef Great Lakes
· Dave Beran (Next)
· Stephanie Izard (Girl and the Goat, Little Goat Diner)
· Paul Virant (Vie, Perrenial Virant)
· Andrew Zimmerman (Sepia)

Outstanding Service: Topolobampo

Outstanding Restaurant: Spiaggia

Outstanding Chef: Paul Kahan (Blackbird, etc.)

Odds are a missed a few locals, I don't know the entire scene.

Chicago Reader's Mike Sula for "Chicken of the Trees," a finalist in the M.F.K. Fisher Distinguished Writing Award for his story on urban squirrel dining.

Here are a few other locals:

The Hungry Hound was nominated for "television segment".

Jimmy Bannos (Purple Pig) for Rising Star Chef of the Year.

Grace for Best New Restaurant.

Donnie Madia for Restauranteur.

G Wiv wrote:Chicago Reader's Mike Sula for "Chicken of the Trees," a finalist in the M.F.K. Fisher Distinguished Writing Award for his story on urban squirrel dining.

Hi,

I have that Reader cover over my desk, that was one great article. I wish Mike the best!

Regards,

If you haven't read Mike Sula's Chicken of the Trees yet, you have a treat in store. Great topic, great writing. If Sula doesn't win this time I'm gonna burn a copy of James Beard's American Cookery in protest.

The Hungry Hound was nominated for "television segment".

Little known fact, Steve Dolinsky has 12 James Beard Awards.

Rene G wrote:If you haven't read Mike Sula's Chicken of the Trees yet, you have a treat in store. Great topic, great writing. If Sula doesn't win this time I'm gonna burn a copy of James Beard's American Cookery in protest.

LOL. I couldn't agree more.

=R=

Hi,

I heard Sula won a M.F.K Fisher award for his article Squirrel: Chicken of the Trees.

Great!

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:Hi,

I heard Sula won a M.F.K Fisher award for his article Squirrel: Chicken of the Trees.

Great!

Regards,

You heard right. His writing is so good and so good to have it recognized.

Other winners can be found here.

Notable winners:

mfk fisher distinguished writing award
Mike Sula
Chicago Reader
“Chicken of the Tree"

cookBook hall of fame: Anne Willan

american cooking
Mastering the Art of Southern Cooking
by Nathalie Dupree and Cynthia Graubart
(Gibbs Smith)

international
Jerusalem: A Cookbook
by Yotam Ottolenghi & Sami Tamimi
(Ten Speed Press)

reference and scholarship
The Art of Fermentation: An In-Depth Exploration
of Essential Concepts and Processes from Around
the World
by Sandor Ellix Katz
(Chelsea Green Publishing)

vegetaBle focused and vegetarian
Roots: The Definitive Compendium with
More Than 225 Recipes
by Diane Morgan
(Chronicle Books)
Podcast of Diane Morgan's visit to Chicago Foodways Roundtable in October: http://www.wbez.org/series/chicago-ampl ... rld-103892

radio show/audio weBcast
Fear of Frying
Host: Nina Barrett
Area: WBEZ
Producer: Lynette Kalsnes

individual food Blog
Hunter Angler Gardener Cook
honest-food.net
Hank Shaw

Cathy2 wrote:I heard Sula won a M.F.K Fisher award for his article Squirrel: Chicken of the Trees.

So nice to hear that Mike Sula got this much deserved recognition. Way to go Mike!

Congrats, to Sula on a well-deserved accomplishment. Not only can he trap and cook, he can write real pretty, too.

I've been thinking all week I want a bumper sticker that says something like this . . .



In all seriousness, the MFK Fisher Award is the very top of the pyramid for food writing, and it couldn't have gone to more deserving, talented soul.

=R=

Congrats to Sula! I read the piece with Great Interest. It provoked me to sight-in my .177 in eager preparation for the Protect Your Tomatoes and Eat the Results season!


Geo

BTW, just in case there's someone out there who hasn't seen it, here's a fine candidate for the annual What-to-do-about-squirrels? award.

Geo

Congrats to Mike! The article is exceptional, and if you ever have an interest in trying some other small vermin I may be able to help in that department (woodchuck and beaver wouldn't be too much of a hassle).

The results are in and Stephanie Izard won best Great Lakes, Aviary won for Outstanding Bar Program, and Paul Kahan tied with David Chang for Outstanding Chef.

All are well deserved wins, but I'm exceptionally happy to see the win for Paul Kahan. Blackbird opened right around the time I could actually afford going to more expensive places, and it quickly became one of my favorites. While the food is absolutely amazing there, what I found to be even more incredible is the way everyone there figured out how to keep the quality up and drop the price for a different experience at Avec. And then again at Publican, and then again at Big Star, and then again at PQM.

There is something about that evolution that I love - making the food more accessible and affordable with each incarnation, while still keeping up the quality on every level. To me that symbolizes everything good I've seen happening in Chicago dining over the last two decades. Paul is obviously not the only person who's done this (Frontera, Takashi's noodles, etc.), but he's done it in such an obvious and consistent manner that he's become the symbol of that approach to me (and I just love the food at all his places). It's a long overdue award to a very deserving recipient.

ronnie_suburban wrote:I've been thinking all week I want a bumper sticker that says something like this . . .

I need one of those for my dog.

Who Won 2013 Beard Journalism Awards and Why by Dianne Jacob

MFK Fisher Distinguished Writing
Mike Sula
Chicago Reader
“Chicken of the Trees”

An engaging personal essay where the writer, enraged by the squirrel who eats his rooftop tomatoes, learns the history of eating squirrels in the US, goes off to hunt the little bastards, and makes dishes with squirrel meat.