And The James Beard Winners Are...

Last night top chefs and food fans from around the country traded in their toques for tuxes, gowns, and a surprising number of feathery fascinators — mostly on the women. While we attributed that last bit to left-over Royal wedding fervor and tried to ignore it, the rest of the night held our attention raptly as the medallions were handed out.

Editorial director Richard watched from a seat in the theater and the Mercedes-Benz lounge where he was among the first to congratulate and chat with the winners, who included Tony Maws of Boston's Craigie on Main — a recent Food Republic burger of the week honoree, although I'm sure this award meant something to him as well. Editor in Chief Lisa hunkered down in the press room where chefs, presenters, and writers sipped Plymouth gin cocktails and scoffed down the magical meatballs of The Meatball Shop. All in all a fun little night.

And the winners were:

BEST NEW RESTAURANT

ABC Kitchen, NYC

OUTSTANDING CHEF

José Andrés, minibar by José Andrés, Washington, D.C.

OUTSTANDING PASTRY CHEF

Angela Pinkerton, Eleven Madison Park, NYC

OUTSTANDING RESTAURANT

Eleven Madison Park, NYC

OUTSTANDING RESTAURATEUR

Richard Melman

OUTSTANDING SERVICE

Per Se, NYC

OUTSTANDING WINE SERVICE

The Modern, NYC, Belinda Chang

OUTSTANDING WINE AND SPIRITS PROFESSIONAL

Julian Van Winkle III, Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery, Louisville, KY

RISING STAR CHEF OF THE YEAR

Gabriel Rucker, Le Pigeon, Portland, OR

BEST CHEF: GREAT LAKES

Alex Young, Zingerman's Roadhouse, Ann Arbor, MI

BEST CHEF: MID-ATLANTIC

Michael Solomonov, Zahav, Philadelphia

BEST CHEF: MIDWEST

Isaac Becker, 112 Eatery, Minneapolis

BEST CHEF: NEW YORK CITY

Gabrielle Hamilton, Prune

BEST CHEF: NORTHEAST

Tony Maws, Craigie On Main, Cambridge, MA

BEST CHEF: NORTHWEST

Andy Ricker, Pok Pok, Portland, OR

BEST CHEF: PACIFIC

Michael Tusk, Quince, San Francisco

BEST CHEF: SOUTH

Stephen Stryjewski, Cochon, New Orleans

BEST CHEF: SOUTHEAST

Andrea Reusing, Lantern, Chapel Hill, NC

BEST CHEF: SOUTHWEST

*TIE Saipin Chutima, Lotus of Siam, Las Vegas

*TIE Tyson Cole, Uchi, Austin, TX

AMERICA'S CLASSICS AWARDS

Locally owned restaurants "beloved in their regions for quality food that reflects the character of their community," according to the Foundation.

Chef Vola's (Atlantic City, NJ)

Crook's Corner (Chapel Hill, NC)

Noriega Restaurant and Hotel (Bakersfield, CA)

Le Veau d'Or (New York, NY)

Watts Tea Shop (Milwaukee, WI)

WHO'S WHO OF FOOD & BEVERAGE IN AMERICA

Jonathan Gold, Writer, LA Weekly, Los Angeles

Lee Jones, Farmer/ Owner, Chef's Garden, Huron, OH

Charles Phan, Chef/Owner, The Slanted Door, San Francisco

Frank Stitt, Chef/Owner, Highlands Bar and Grill, Birmingham, AL

Nick Valenti, CEO, Patina Restaurant Group

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

Kevin Zraly

HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR

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