Gastronomique: Combing the Beard's Results.
Sunday and yesterday, the James Beard foundation announced their annual awards for 2006 in a posh ceremony. We (a) did not win for our excellent food coverage; and (b) were not invited, which is fine, because we would not have been able to go to New York. Keep not inviting us, as long as you don't give your hardware in our backyard, we don't even care. Losers. Whatever. Even our Gothamist siblings were (a)-and-(b) snubbed, despite holding home court, so at least we have a shoulder to cry on. Or vice-versa.
Our side of the country still hold its own in the award count. Running in the 100m dash of these Olympics, Thomas Keller won a gold medal for Outstanding Restaurant. That means the French Laundry in Napa is the best restaurant in the U.S., and it's 2 months -- for the reservation -- and 90min -- for the drive -- away. So close, yet so $$$far$$$. Among the other nominees, Keller beat Nancy Oakes' Boulevard. Corey Lee, the chef who took the helm at the French Laundry, now that Keller multiplexes between Vegas, New York and his different ventures in Napa, won rising star: mmm, looks like Steve Young replaced Joe Montana. And if you want to be pampered, go to Gary Danko, who snatched outstanding service award.
Picture of Thomas Keller and friend (we bet on "wife") displaying the Beard medal, courtesy of Beard Foundation [update: we lost the bet big time. Person on the right is Laura Cunningham, general manager at the Laundry, and consultant at Per Se in New-York. Look the other way, there's no gossip here. Dang]
The food coverage which won (hint: not us): the Chron food's section, Miriam Morgan and Linda Murphy, please stand up, for newspaper with circulation 300,000. In the alt food coverage, We Read the Weeklies frequent guest Jonathan Kauffman, for his piece "endangered species," most likely about quality food reviewers at the New Times. Oh, and KRON's Bay Cafe is the best local television food show in the US! Go, KRON, Go!
And then, for the Best Chef for California, we got, if you forgive our hairy metaphor, mooned by the Beard Committee: four out of the five restaurants nominated were from SF: Jardiniere, La Folie, Piperade, Quince. And who won? Suzanne Goin, for Lucques in West Hollywood. Tartine Bakery chefs Elizabeth Prueitt and Chad Robertson did not win for Best Pastry, but give them a hand, it is already amazing that they got nominated.
Boulevard misses the medal in the "best cookbook from a professional point of view" category, despite our glowing review. Just to prove there is no SFist curse, GQ's Alan Richman, who is not local, but whom we quoted here won for, in part, his burger piece.
Plus, the Berkeley publishers of the Boulevard book, Ten Speed, won cookbook of the year with Writings on Food: Hungry Planet: What the World Eats, a book which looks absolutely stunning. The authors, Peter Menzel and Faith D’Aluisio, live in Napa.