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

THE JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION JOURNALISM AWARDS DINNER MAY 5 TO FEATURE GREAT CHEFS FROM ITALY

New York – February 10 – A team of leading chefs from Italy will dazzle guests at The James Beard Foundation Journalism Awards Dinner on Friday, May 5, 2000. The dinner and presentation of 16 awards for outstanding food and beverage writing will take place at the Hilton New York, which will unveil a multi-million dollar renovation this spring. The reception preceding the dinner will take place at the new Etrusca restaurant. The dinner is by invitation only, to members of the journalism and publishing communities.

The theme of the Awards festivities is "A Passion for Italy: Food, Wine and Culture." Courtesy of Alitalia airlines, a team of guest chefs from Italy will fly to New York, to join the chefs of the Hilton New York in preparing the evening’s menu. At press time, participating chefs from Italy will include: Andrea Berton, Taverna Ristorante, Friuli; Pierangelo Cornaro, Taverna Colleoni dell’ Angelo, Bergamo; and Antonio Graziano, Mulinazzo, Palermo. Participating chefs from the Hilton New York will include: Uwe Toedter, Executive Chef, Joseph Manfredi, Pastry Chef and Carmine Marletta, Chef of Etrusca restaurant. James Beard Foundation Award-winning chefs Lidia Matticchio Bastianich, Felidia Ristorante, New York City, and Roberto Donna, Galileo, Washington, D.C. will serve as the event Executive Chefs.

Admission to the dinner is $95. For reservations, call the Awards box office at 212-367-9490.

The James Beard Foundation Journalism Awards recognize outstanding writing on food and beverage topics for newspapers, magazines and, for the first time, the Internet. The awards are judged by journalism school deans and members of the journalism community who are not actively reporting on food and beverage topics. The program is funded solely by The James Beard Foundation. Nominees will be announced March 16. For more information on the awards and the list of nominees, log onto www.jamesbeard.org.