Three San Francisco chefs were honored with annual James Beard Foundation awards, led by Zuni Cafe's Judy Rodgers, who was named the All-Clad Cookware Outstanding Chef .
Charles Phan of The Slanted Door was named the American Express Best Chef for California while Emily Luchetti, the pastry chef at Farallon, was named All-Clad Bakeware Outstanding Pastry Chef.
Finally, Alice Waters, chef and owner of Chez Panisse, received The James Beard Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. Waters was honored for being at the forefront of the American culinary revolution that started in California in the 1970s, for her mentorship to numerous chefs, authors and writers, and for her leadership in the efforts to promote sustainable agriculture. This was the third James Beard Foundation Award for Waters. In 1992 she was named All-Clad Cookware Outstanding Chef, and Chez Panisse received The James Beard Foundation Award for S.Pellegrino Outstanding Restaurant. In 1997, Waters was named James Beard Foundation Humanitarian of the Year for her creation of The Edible Schoolyard to educate children on the origins of food.
The James Beard Foundation Awards, now in their 14th year, recognize excellence and achievement in the culinary profession. More than 60 awards were presented, and more than 1600 industry leaders attended the ceremony, which was followed by a lavish reception featuring more than 30 chefs cooking up Latin flavors under the theme, "Sabor Latino."
"The significance of The James Beard Foundation Awards is that nominees and winners are selected by their peers," said Len Pickell, President of The James Beard Foundation. "To win a James Beard Foundation Award is the highest honor in the industry a culinary professional can achieve." Pickell also noted that trustees and staff of The James Beard Foundation do not vote. The James Beard Foundation is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to furthering the practice and appreciation of the culinary arts.
A full listing of awards results, photos and winners' speeches from the ceremony can be found at JamesBeard.org.
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