The James Beard Foundation's awards ceremony kicked off with a lively start, as ABC political commentator Cokie Roberts, the event's M.C., introduced the SugarTone Brass Band, which led a procession of the 20 New Orleans-based chefs down the center aisle of the Broadway Ballroom at the Marriott Marquis. The group, which also cooked at the post-ceremony tasting reception, was honored with this year's humanitarian of the year award for feeding victims and rescue workers in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.To create an appropriate backdrop for this year's Big Easy-theme event, Paula Longendyke, set designer for Overland Entertainment, which produced the awards ceremony, went down to New Orleans to visit the warehouse of famed Mardi Gras float company Mardi Gras Productions. "It was important to rent the backdrops and props from vendors in New Orleans, instead of just getting them here in New York, since [vendors there] have been completely devastated by the hurricanes," Longendyke said. Mardi Gras Productions owner Blaine Kern "used to have 30 people working for him, but since the hurricane, he's down to 10."
While the backdrop—decorated with blowups of street signs—gave the set a lovely, French-Quarter-at-twilight feel, it did have a geographical inaccuracy: Roberts, a New Orleans native, pointed out in her opening remarks that it's impossible to stand between Bourbon Street and St. Ann (the thoroughfares intersect).
The ceremony was filled with lots of video tributes to the flooded city, including interviews with journalists, chefs, and food bank volunteers who witnessed the damage firsthand. After all the awards were doled out, the 1,600 guests headed downstairs to the post-ceremony tasting reception, which included dishes such as oysters Rockefeller, duck and andouille ?touf?e, bananas Foster, and beignets served in white paper bags.
Melanie Young of M. Young Communications oversaw the event for the 16th year, and announced that she and her company are moving on to new projects. The foundation's new board of trustees has decided to bid out the awards every year from now on; Young will not produce the awards next year. Her lengthy tour of duty prompted a special thank you from the foundation on stage, which was followed by a surprise marriage proposal from her boyfriend, David Ransom (who's employed by Young at her firm).
—Suzanne Ito
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While the backdrop—decorated with blowups of street signs—gave the set a lovely, French-Quarter-at-twilight feel, it did have a geographical inaccuracy: Roberts, a New Orleans native, pointed out in her opening remarks that it's impossible to stand between Bourbon Street and St. Ann (the thoroughfares intersect).
The ceremony was filled with lots of video tributes to the flooded city, including interviews with journalists, chefs, and food bank volunteers who witnessed the damage firsthand. After all the awards were doled out, the 1,600 guests headed downstairs to the post-ceremony tasting reception, which included dishes such as oysters Rockefeller, duck and andouille ?touf?e, bananas Foster, and beignets served in white paper bags.
Melanie Young of M. Young Communications oversaw the event for the 16th year, and announced that she and her company are moving on to new projects. The foundation's new board of trustees has decided to bid out the awards every year from now on; Young will not produce the awards next year. Her lengthy tour of duty prompted a special thank you from the foundation on stage, which was followed by a surprise marriage proposal from her boyfriend, David Ransom (who's employed by Young at her firm).
—Suzanne Ito
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The backdrop—decorated with blowups of street signs—from Mardi Gras Productions gave the set a lovely, French-Quarter-at-twilight feel.
The SugarTone Brass Band led a procession of 20 New Orleans chefs into the ballroom.
