Beard Foundation Awards

My friend, Alicia Prescott, former Pastry Chef of Circa 1886 here in Charleston, sparked my interest in the James Beard Foundation. The non-profit foundation is the pre-eminent organization for preserving and nurturing America's culinary heritage and diversity. Like the Foodie Grammy's or Oscars... To recieve an award, or even a nomination, is very prestigious. The 20th Anniversary James Beard Foundation Awards took place on May 7, 2007 in New York and here is a look at their event. Chef Mike Lata of FIG was nominated for Best Chef Southeast, congratulations. Also, a couple of chefs from my former residence, New Orleans, were honored!

The theme was "Art of American Food" and the ceremony took place at Lincoln Center. There were over 1,600 attendees, can you imagine planning for that???

By the way, below is Alicia's write up on the James Beard Foundation website for an event she participated in, called History is Hot, in 2004. Alicia is now perfecting her high-altitude baking skills at the Broadmoor, a grand and historic hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

"The Wentworth Mansion, built as a family home in 1886 by cotton magnate Francis Silas Rodgers, is an ornate showplace replete with Tiffany windows, Italian marble fireplaces, and a rooftop cupola that affords guests fabulous views of Charleston. We think the mansion’s sweetest feature is pastry chef Alicia Prescott. At 12, Prescott enrolled herself in a cake decorating class; years later, working with chef Rolf Weber at the Heritage Club in Gainesville, she recognized her aspirations lay in pastry. She attended Johnson & Wales, and worked at the Harbour Club of Charleston before joining Wentworth Mansion. Her desserts at the Wentworth’s award-winning Circa 1886 are Southern charmers that highlight locally prized ingredients—think butterscotch crêpe soufflé with applejack brandy sauce and crème fraîche–walnut ice cream, or a bittersweet chocolate–mint julep terrine with Maker’s Mark sponge cake, blood orange sherbet, and cocoa nib bonbons. "

Photos: WireImage, James Beard Foundation, BizBash