by J. Michael Wheeler
Food Arts, the lush culinary trade magazine, ran the list of culinary contest winners from 2007. The contests ranged from Paris Gourmet U.S. Pastry Competition to The Peanut Advisory Board. Here’s a smattering of the results.
James Beard Foundation
Best New Restaurant L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, NYC (owner: Joël Robuchon)
Cookbook of the Year Matt Lee and Ted Lee for The Lee Bros. Southern Cookbook
Cookbook Hall of Fame Mollie Katzen for The Moosewood Cookbook
Rising Star Chef of the Year David Chang (Momofuku Noodle Bar, NYC)
For more winners and info: 212 627.1111; jamesbeard.org
Bread Bakers Guild of America
Professional Raymond Calvel Award (former Golden Baguette Award) Christian Vabert (founder Coupe du Monde de la Boulangerie and founder, L’Ecole Française de Boulngerie, Aurillac, France)
For info: 412 823.2080; bbga.org
Court of Master Sommeliers
Master Sommelier Diploma Thomas Burke, Fred Dexheimer, Brian Koziol, George Milotes, Randa Warren, and Brett Zimmerman.
For info: 707 255.5056; mastersommeliers.org
McIlhenny Company Tabasco™ Hottest Chef Contest
Grand Prize ($10,000) Gregory Retz (exec chef/foodservice director, Beth Sholom Village, Virginia Beach, VA) for crusted panna cotta diavalo.
Student Prize ($2,500) Laura Curtis (CIA Hyde Park, NY) for orange Tabasco cake with mascarpone/honey glaze.
For info: 888 HOT.DASH; tabascofoodservice.com
Paris Gourmet U.S. Pastry Competition
Pastry Chef of the Year ($4,000) Ebow Dadzie (co-owner, Folukie Restaurant, Brooklyn, NY and pastry chef, The Grand Hyatt Hotel, NYC)
For more winners and info: 800 727.8791; parisgourmetusa.com
Avocados from Mexico “Fiesta Time” Contest
First Prize ($2,000) Luis Amado (international cuisine chef/instructor, Baker College, Muskegon, MI) for Mojito swordfish with Hass avocado/pineapple pico de gallo.
For more winners and info: 212 420.8808; avocadosfrommexico.com
International Bartenders Association World Cocktail Competition
Classic Cocktail Gold Medal Winner Krista Meri (Estonia) for Golden Autumn
FlairCocktail Gold Medal Winner Danilo Oribe (Uruguay) for Taiwan Vice
For info: 714 542.2105; iba-world.com/english/events
The Peanut Advisory Board
Winner Appetizer/Bar Snack ($1000) Richard Hetzler (exec chef, Restaurant Associates, Mitsitam Native Foods Café, National Museum of the American Indian, Washington, DC) for peanut soup.
Winner Salad/Side Dish ($1000) Fortunato Nicotra (exec chef, Felida, NYC) for penne pasta.
Winner Entrée ($1000) Jeffery Fuelo (exec chef, Sodexho Corporate Dining service, Person Education, Upper Saddle river, NJ) for Thai-style peanut/panko pork chop.
For info: 707 998.7311; peanutbutterlovers.com
Michelin Guide France 2008
Three restaurants were added to the three-star category Pic, Anne-Sophie Pic (Valence), Le Meurice, Yannick Alléno (Paris), and Astrance, Pascal Barbot (Paris)
For info: 864 458.4335; michelinguide.com
