FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contacts:
Melanie Young, Awards Director, 212-620-7027 ext. 303
Jeanne Wilensky, Public Relations Director, 718-435-5569

10TH ANNUAL JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION AWARDS EMBRACE ITALIAN FOOD, WINE AND CULTURE WITH A PASSION

New York, February 10 - "A Passion for Italy: Food, Wine and Culture" will be the theme of the tenth annual James Beard Foundation Awards gala reception on Monday, May 8, 2000, at the New York Marriott Marquis.

The Awards presentation will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Marriott Marquis. After the Awards presentation, guests will attend a reception featuring a menu prepared by more than 30 chefs from Italy and the United States, and leading Italian wine and food producers. Lidia Matticchio Bastianich, executive chef and owner of New York City’s acclaimed Felidia Ristorante, and 1999 recipient of The James Beard Foundation Award for American Express Best Chef: New York City, will serve as the reception Executive Chef(Click here for the list of reception chefs.)

"Italian food and wine have played a critical role in the evolution of America’s culinary scene, from restaurants to cookbooks to food products ranging from olive oil and Italian cheeses to white truffles", said Len Pickell, president of The James Beard Foundation. "The Foundation felt the tenth anniversary of its Awards program should salute a cuisine that has made a major impact on our nation’s table over the past 10 years and will continue to do so in the future."

The James Beard Foundation Awards are the nation’s premier honors for fine food and beverage industry professionals, including: cookbook authors, restaurants, chefs, food and beverage journalists, broadcasters, and restaurant and graphic designers. Sixty-eight awards will be presented. Voting for The James Beard Foundation Awards is conducted by independent volunteer panels of more than 400 food and beverage professionals around the country, who are assigned to vote on specific award categories. Nominations will be announced March 16. For more information about the awards and to view the list of nominees (after March 16), log onto www.jamesbeard.org. 

The May 8 Awards Gala is open to the public. For ticket information, call The James Beard Awards ticket line: 212-367-9490. Ticket prices are $200 for Foundation members and $250 for the general public and include admission to both the Awards ceremony and the "Passion for Italy" reception. The American Express^® Card is the official Card of The James Beard Foundation Awards.

The Awards program is funded by The James Beard Foundation with generous support from corporate sponsors and food and beverage organizations who are leaders in the industry, including: Alitalia, All-Clad Metalcrafters, American Express Company, Bertolli Olive Oil, Champagne Perrier-Jouët, Chefwear, Citterio USA, D’Artagnan Cervena, Hawaiian Vintage Chocolate, Hudson Valley Foie Gras, illy espresso of the americas, inc., Italian Trade Commission, KitchenAid, Kobrand Corporation, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, The Perrier Group of America, Rums of Puerto Rico, Sub-Zero Freezer Company, Viking Range Corporation and Weber Grills (Weber-Stephen Products Co.).

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The James Beard Foundation is a not-for-profit, 501 (c)(3) organization dedicated to furthering the practice and appreciation of the culinary arts. The Foundation, located in Greenwich Village, at the historic James Beard House, was established in 1985 in memory of the late cookbook author, journalist, chef, and teacher, James Beard, considered the "father of American gastronomy." For membership information, call 800-36-BEARD, or 212-675-4984.