Chicago’s Grant Achatz (Alinea) won the James Beard award for Outstanding Chef.
photo: Alessandra Rotondi
Last night at NYC's Lincoln Center, the spotlight was on the food greats who gathered for the James Beard Foundation Awards. Big winners included Joseph Bastianich and Mario Batali for Best Restaurateur, NYC's Gramercy Tavern for Outstanding Restaurant and Washington, DC's Central Michel Richard for Best New Restaurant. Perhaps the greatest triumph of the night was Chicago's Grant Achatz, who not that long ago had defeated the cancer that threatened his life as well as his taste buds, winning the award for Outstanding Chef. The three-hour awards ceremony was followed by a walk-around tasting with an "artisanal America" theme – not to mention raucous after-parties. If you missed the affair (which was open to the public), check out The Buzz's photo coverage here.
– Liz Borod Wright