The 2012 James Beard Foundation Awards

Star chefs including Daniel Humm, Thomas Keller and Christina Tosi gather at the James Beard Foundation's annual gala

  • Photograph: Virginia Rollison

    Will Guidara and Daniel Humm at the James Beard Foundation Awards

  • Photograph: Virginia Rollison

    David Chang and Christina Tosi at the James Beard Foundation Awards

  • Photograph: Virginia Rollison

    Jim Meehan and the PDT team at the James Beard Foundation Awards

  • Photograph: Virginia Rollison

    Jacques Pepin at the James Beard Foundation Awards

  • Photograph: Virginia Rollison

    Ken Friedman, Susan Ungaro and April Bloomfield at the James Beard Foundation Awards

  • Photograph: Virginia Rollison

    Andrew Zimmern at the James Beard Foundation Awards

  • Photograph: Virginia Rollison

    Susan Ungaro and Seamus Mullen at the James Beard Foundation Awards

  • Photograph: Virginia Rollison

    Thomas Keller at the James Beard Foundation Awards

  • Photograph: Virginia Rollison

    Susan Ungaro, Audrey Saunders and Robert Hess at the James Beard Foundation Awards

  • Photograph: Virginia Rollison

    Rick Bayless at the James Beard Foundation Awards

  • Photograph: Virginia Rollison

    Phil Suarez and Jean-Georges Vongerichten at the James Beard Foundation Awards

  • Photograph: Virginia Rollison

    José Andrés at the James Beard Foundation Awards

  • Photograph: Virginia Rollison

    Wolfgang Puck at the James Beard Foundation Awards

  • Photograph: Virginia Rollison

    Grant Achatz at the James Beard Foundation Awards

  • Photograph: Virginia Rollison

    Danny Bowien at the James Beard Foundation Awards

  • Photograph: Virginia Rollison

    Sam Calagione at the James Beard Foundation Awards

  • Photograph: Virginia Rollison

    Paul Grieco and Marco Canora at the James Beard Foundation Awards

  • Photograph: Virginia Rollison

    John Besh and Aarón Sanchez at the James Beard Foundation Awards

  • Photograph: Virginia Rollison

    Daniel Boulud at the James Beard Foundation Awards

  • Photograph: Virginia Rollison

    Dan Barber at the James Beard Foundation Awards

  • Photograph: Virginia Rollison

    Danny Meyer, Michael Anthony and Kevin Mahan at the James Beard Foundation Awards

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    Toby Maloney and Julie Reiner at the James Beard Foundation Awards

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    Garrett Oliver at the James Beard Foundation Awards

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    Michael White at the James Beard Foundation Awards

  • Photograph: Virginia Rollison

    Maile Carpenter and Wylie Dufresne at the James Beard Foundation Awards

  • Photograph: Virginia Rollison

    Drew Nieporent, Marc Murphy and Ted Allen at the James Beard Foundation Awards

Photograph: Virginia Rollison

Will Guidara and Daniel Humm at the James Beard Foundation Awards

Food-world luminaries gathered last night for the 2012 James Beard Foundation Awards.


New York was well-represented, taking home big wins in major categories. After snagging the nod for Outstanding Restaurant last year, Daniel Humm (Eleven Madison Park) was named this year’s Outstanding Chef, and Christina Tosi (Momofuku Milk Bar) won the Rising Star Chef award—the first pastry chef to ever do so. In the brand new Outstanding Bar Program category, PDT beat out cocktail heavyweight the Pegu Club, along with Chicago’s Aviary and the Violet Hour, while Paul Grieco (Terroir) nabbed the Outstanding Wine, Beer or Spirits Professional award. April Bloomfield (The Spotted Pig), Wylie Dufresne (wd~50), Mark Ladner (Del Posto) and Michael White (Marea) were all up for the honor of Best Chef: New York City, but Michael Anthony (Gramercy Tavern) took home the crown, capping a year complicated by a serious medical scare with a gratifying distinction.


On the after-party circuit, the bubbly was flowing and Beastie Boys (RIP MCA) hits pumped out of the stereo at Gramercy Tavern, where we spotted George Mendes, David Chang and David Bouley. At Tertulia, Seamus Mullen puffed cigars with Mario Carbone and Michael White outside the restaurant. But EMP’s champagne-soaked rager proved, yet again, to be the night’s wildest after-party, with a packed crowd of industry revelers wiling out to hip-hop anthems. Even the usually reserved Humm joined Daniel Boulud for some fist-pumping shimmying on the banquettes.


Click through our slide show for snaps of last night’s festivities, visit our Twitter stream and check out the full list of NYC winners below.


Outstanding Chef: Daniel Humm (Eleven Madison Park)


Rising Star Chef: Christina Tosi (Momofuku Milk Bar)


Outstanding Bar Program: PDT


Best Chef: New York City (Five Boroughs): Michael Anthony (Gramercy Tavern)


Outstanding Wine, Beer or Spirits Professional: Paul Grieco (Terroir)


Outstanding Service: La Grenouille


Outstanding Restaurant Design: Le Bernardin (Bentel & Bentel Architects)


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