NOMINEES ANNOUNCED FOR 2000 JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION AWARDS

New York -- March 16 -- Nominees were announced this evening for The 2000 James Beard Foundation Awards, the nation’s top honors for culinary professionals. Foundation President Len Pickell named nominees in 51 award categories for cookbooks, restaurants and chefs, restaurant design, journalism and broadcast media. In all, 68 Awards will be announced at The Tenth Annual James Beard Foundation Awards Gala Monday, May 8, 2000, at the New York Marriott Marquis. Over 1,700 food and beverage industry leaders will attend the ceremony.

The announcements were made at a reception held at the historic James Beard House in Greenwich Village. The reception was hosted by Weber-Stephen Products Co. and featured an Italian grill menu prepared by Chef Stefano Riccioletti from Tony May’s Gemelli Restaurant & Bar in New York City.

Mr. Pickell announced that Marcella Hazan, author of Marcella Hazan’s Classic Italian Cooking and other books on Italian cuisine, would receive The James Beard Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. "For the Awards’ tenth anniversary, The James Beard Foundation has selected the reception theme ‘A Passion for Italy’ in salute to one of the world’s great cuisines. The Foundation’s Awards Board, which selects The Lifetime Achievement Award, felt it was this year to honor Marcella Hazan, who has helped influence our appreciate of Italian cooking through her writings and her teachings."

Five inductees were announced for this year’s D’Artagnan Cervena Who’s Who of Food and Beverage in America, which recognizes food and beverage professionals for their significant and lasting achievements in the food and beverage industry. They are: Barbara Fairchild, executive editor of Bon Appétit magazine; Thomas Keller, chef/owner of the esteemed French Laundry in Yountville, CA; Michael Romano, chef and co-owner of New York City’s top-ranked Union Square Café; Jeffrey Steingarten, food columnist for Vogue magazine; and, Larry Stone, wine director of Rubicon, San Francisco.

Mr. Pickell noted that the eight recipients of the Bertolli Olive Oil America's Regional Classics, presented to casual, locally owned and operated regional landmark restaurants, will be announced at the awards ceremony May 8. There are no nominees in this category.

Award nominees are selected by more than 500 food, beverage and journalism professionals throughout the nation. Each judge, based on his or her expertise, is assigned a specific award category to evaluate. The staff and trustees of The James Beard Foundation do not vote. Membership in and service to The James Beard Foundation are neither requirements nor criteria for award consideration. The accounting firm, Deloitte & Touche LLP, tabulates ballots. Winners’ identities remain confidential until the awards ceremonies. Winners receive a bronze medallion engraved with the image of James Beard and an Award certificate.

The Journalism Awards will be presented on Friday, May 5, at a dinner at the Hilton New York. Sixteen awards will be presented to journalists for excellence in writing on food and beverage topics including a debut award for original Internet Reporting on Food, Beverage, Restaurant Review and Nutrition. The Journalism Awards Dinner menu will be prepared by four guest chefs from Italy and chefs from the Hilton New York Hotel and its new restaurant Etrusca.

The Restaurant and Chef, Cookbook, Restaurant Design and Broadcast Media Awards will be presented Monday, May 8, at a ceremony at the New York Marriott Marquis. More than 30 chefs specializing in Italian cuisine, numerous Italian winemakers and Perrier-Jouët Champagne will be featured at a lavish reception following the awards presentation. Information and tickets to the May 8 Awards Gala, which is open to the public, can be reserved by calling (212) 367-9490. Tickets are $200 for Foundation Members and $250 for the public. The American Express^® Card is the official Card of The James Beard Foundation Awards. Information about The James Beard Foundation, the Awards and lists of nominees and winners will be available online at www.jamesbeard.org.

The James Beard Foundation Awards were established in 1990 to recognize outstanding achievement and excellence in the culinary, and related professions. The Awards are funded by The James Beard Foundation with generous support from the following: Alitalia, All-Clad Metalcrafters, American Express Company, Barilla Pasta, Bertolli Olive Oil, BevAccess.com, Bindi, Champagne Perrier-Jouët, Chefwear, Citterio USA, D’Artagnan Cervena, Hawaiian Vintage Chocolate, Hudson Valley Foie Gras, illy espresso of the Americas, Georgetown Farm, KitchenAid, Kobrand Corporation, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Perrier Group of America, Rums of Puerto Rico, Sub-Zero Freezer Company, Weber Grills (Weber-Stephen Products Co.) and Viking Range Corporation. The Journalism Awards are solely funded by The Foundation, with no outside sponsorship. For further information on The James Beard Foundation, call (800) 36-BEARD or 212-627-2308.

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