No one expects samba dancers in G-strings at the James Beard Foundation awards, but there they were, shakin' booty onstage at the onset of the ceremony. The dancers, provided by Sounds of Brazil, were just part of the awards presentation at the Marriott Marquis, where more than 1,000 guests packed the Broadway Ballroom for the restaurant and food industry's biggest schmooze-fest.
The dancers weren't the only sartorial stunners at the awards: Chef Mario Batali wore pants with his black tie rather than his usual bermuda shorts. "I'm going for a new look," he told the crowd when award co-presenter Nobu Matsuhisa expressed astonishment at his outfit. Planned by Melanie Young of M. Young Communications and Yvon Moller, the foundation's director of special events, the event combined the awards presentation with a tasting reception.
As always, the event was the culmination of a week of food and restaurant industry events. Most notably, Bon Appetit's annual Chefs' Night Out event saw 1,500 guests pack Stone Rose, V Steakhouse and Cafe Gray at the Time Warner Center the night before the awards. While Cafe Gray isn't quite finished, the half-completed space and kitchen were open for tours and tastings. (Per Se participated by providing popcorn sprinkled with minced black truffles, truffle oil and sea salt, but kept its doors closed to the event. And Masa Takayama of Masa decided—after the invites went out—to opt out completely.)
Called "Sabor Latino," the Latin-themed awards event featured M.C. duo Mario Lopez (of Saved by the Bell fame) and Maria Conchita Alonso, who proved to be a bit of a nut with her unscripted comments. At one point, she pronounced Gallo of Sonoma as though it were a Spanish name (as in pico de gallo). Lopez corrected her, but she persisted with the pronunciation for a few minutes.
Overland Entertainment oversaw the technical production of the awards, which included lighting and scenery by BML and video production by Sight Effects. Eight brightly colored paintings—created by Overland creative director Paula Longendyke—provided the stage backdrop at the awards ceremony, and crates and baskets filled with fruits and vegetables occupied center stage beneath the large screen.
At the post-awards reception, hungry foodies lunged for dishes by chefs from the United States, Mexico and South and Central America. La Duni Cafe from Dallas, Texas, served drinks called Pisco sours (a grape liqueur mixed with sugar and lemon juice) and margarinhas (a cross between a margarita and a caipirinha) from a shelf made of two tall vases filled with limes, mint leaves, lemons and oranges beneath a sheet of glass and dotted with votive candles and rose petals. Mixx at the Borgata had a bed of moss and wheatgrass studded with gerbera daisies beneath a sheet of glass to serve its short ribs adobo with plantains and chocolate fondue. And chef Raquel Torres decorated his table with a flower arrangement made of corn husks, to accompany his tamales with pineapple and coconut.
—Suzanne Ito
See a list of the New York-based award winners...
Read our coverage of last year's event...
The dancers weren't the only sartorial stunners at the awards: Chef Mario Batali wore pants with his black tie rather than his usual bermuda shorts. "I'm going for a new look," he told the crowd when award co-presenter Nobu Matsuhisa expressed astonishment at his outfit. Planned by Melanie Young of M. Young Communications and Yvon Moller, the foundation's director of special events, the event combined the awards presentation with a tasting reception.
As always, the event was the culmination of a week of food and restaurant industry events. Most notably, Bon Appetit's annual Chefs' Night Out event saw 1,500 guests pack Stone Rose, V Steakhouse and Cafe Gray at the Time Warner Center the night before the awards. While Cafe Gray isn't quite finished, the half-completed space and kitchen were open for tours and tastings. (Per Se participated by providing popcorn sprinkled with minced black truffles, truffle oil and sea salt, but kept its doors closed to the event. And Masa Takayama of Masa decided—after the invites went out—to opt out completely.)
Called "Sabor Latino," the Latin-themed awards event featured M.C. duo Mario Lopez (of Saved by the Bell fame) and Maria Conchita Alonso, who proved to be a bit of a nut with her unscripted comments. At one point, she pronounced Gallo of Sonoma as though it were a Spanish name (as in pico de gallo). Lopez corrected her, but she persisted with the pronunciation for a few minutes.
Overland Entertainment oversaw the technical production of the awards, which included lighting and scenery by BML and video production by Sight Effects. Eight brightly colored paintings—created by Overland creative director Paula Longendyke—provided the stage backdrop at the awards ceremony, and crates and baskets filled with fruits and vegetables occupied center stage beneath the large screen.
At the post-awards reception, hungry foodies lunged for dishes by chefs from the United States, Mexico and South and Central America. La Duni Cafe from Dallas, Texas, served drinks called Pisco sours (a grape liqueur mixed with sugar and lemon juice) and margarinhas (a cross between a margarita and a caipirinha) from a shelf made of two tall vases filled with limes, mint leaves, lemons and oranges beneath a sheet of glass and dotted with votive candles and rose petals. Mixx at the Borgata had a bed of moss and wheatgrass studded with gerbera daisies beneath a sheet of glass to serve its short ribs adobo with plantains and chocolate fondue. And chef Raquel Torres decorated his table with a flower arrangement made of corn husks, to accompany his tamales with pineapple and coconut.
—Suzanne Ito
See a list of the New York-based award winners...
Read our coverage of last year's event...
Vividly painted fruit backdrops decorated the stage at the James Beard Foundation's awards show at the Marriott Marquis. Mario Batali (left) and Nobu Matsuhisa presented some of the KitchenAid Cookbook awards.
Overland Entertainment decorated the sixth floor ballroom lobby with ferns, brightly colored tablecloths, outdoor umbrellas and crates of fruit.
Mixx restaurant at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa in Atlantic City created a colorful tasting table with a bed of moss, wheatgrass and red, orange and yellow gerbera daisies.
Large vases filled with mint leaves, lemons, limes and oranges were the foundation for a shelf on La Duni Cafe's warmly lit table. The restaurant served drinks called Pisco sours (a grape liqueur mixed with sugar and lemon juice) and margarinhas (a cross between a margarita and a caipirinha).
