Live From The 2013 James Beard Awards

The annual James Beard Foundation Awards is often called the Oscars of the food world. Though, in reality, it's more like the combined Oscars, Golden Globes, Grammys, Teen Choice Awards, Independent Spirit, VMAs and NBA All-Star game of the food world. It's the only game in town and everybody cares about it, particularly the nominated chefs, restaurateurs, sommeliers, restaurant designers, mixologists, cookbook authors and media folk who fly to New York every spring with the hopes of winning some hardware.

The Food Republic crew will be at Avery Fisher Hall this evening covering all the action live on Twitter and Instagram. You can also watch the live stream beginning at 6 p.m. EST.

But, first, there was Friday's media awards, which recognized the country's top journalists, TV hosts, magazines, websites, cookbook writers and our very own co-founder Marcus Samuelsson, who was awarded the Beard for Writing and Literature for his memoir, Yes, Chef. That event was followed by a serious throwdown at Momofuku Má Pêche, co-hosted by Lucky Peach. Andy Ricker (Pok Pok) and Miho Hatori (Cibo Matto) DJ'd and I ate the most insane ribs prepared by chef Paul Carmichael.

And on Sunday, the James Beard Foundation hosted the annual pre-game event Chefs Night Out, this year held at the cavernous Plaza Food Hall. While Luke's Lobster, Sushi Gari and No. 7 Sub drew the masses, a crazy eclectic list of chefs, writers and personalities gathered for the start of the official James Beard Awards program. Spotted: Jamie Bissonnette, Andrew Zimmern, Michael White, Noah Bernamoff, George Mendes, Alex Stupak, Ivan Orkin, Philip Speer, Sean Brock, Mark Ladner and 28,000 macarons.

And the media awards went to:

2013 James Beard Foundation Book Awards

For cookbooks published in English in 2012. Winners were announced May 3, 2013.

Cookbook of the Year

Gran Cocina Latina: The Food of Latin America

by Maricel E. Presilla

(W.W. Norton & Company)

Cookbook Hall of Fame

Anne Willan

American Cooking

Mastering the Art of Southern Cooking

by Nathalie Dupree and Cynthia Graubart

(Gibbs Smith)

Baking and Dessert

Flour Water Salt Yeast: The Fundamentals of Artisan Bread and Pizza

by Ken Forkish

(Ten Speed Press)

Beverage

Wine Grapes: A Complete Guide to 1,368 Vine Varieties, Including Their Origins and Flavours

by Jancis Robinson, Julia Harding, and José Vouillamoz

(Ecco)

Cooking from a Professional Point of View

Toqué! Creators of a New Quebec Gastronomy

by Normand Laprise

(les éditions du passage)

Focus on Health

Cooking Light The New Way to Cook Light—Fresh Food & Bold Flavors for Today's Home Cook

by Scott Mowbray and Ann Taylor Pittman

(Oxmoor House)

General Cooking

Canal House Cooks Every Day

by Melissa Hamilton and Christopher Hirsheimer

(Andrews McMeel Publishing)

International

Jerusalem: A Cookbook

by Yotam Ottolenghi & Sami Tamimi

(Ten Speed Press)

Photography

What Katie Ate: Recipes and Other Bits & Pieces

Photographer: Katie Quinn Davies

(Viking Studio)

Reference and Scholarship

The Art of Fermentation: An In-Depth Exploration of Essential Concepts and Processes from Around the World

by Sandor Ellix Katz

(Chelsea Green Publishing)

Single Subject

Ripe: A Cook in the Orchard

by Nigel Slater

(Ten Speed Press)

Vegetable Focused and Vegetarian

Roots: The Definitive Compendium with More Than 225 Recipes

by Diane Morgan

(Chronicle Books)

Writing and Literature

Yes, Chef: A Memoir

by Marcus Samuelsson

(Random House)

2013 James Beard Foundation Broadcast and New Media Awards

Presented by Lenox Tableware and Gifts

For television, webcast, and radio programs aired in 2012. Winners were announced on May 3, 2013.

Radio Show/Audio Webcast

Fear of Frying

Host: Nina Barrett

Area: WBEZ

Producer: Lynette Kalsnes

Special/Documentary (Television or Video Webcast)

The Restaurateur

Network: PBS

Producer: Roger Sherman

Television Program, In Studio or Fixed Location

CBS Sunday Morning: "Eat, Drink and Be Merry"

Host: Charles Osgood

Network: CBS

Producers: Gavin Boyle, Amol Mhatre, Rand Morrison, Amy Rosner, Jason Sacca, and Robin Sanders

Television Program, On Location

The Mind of a Chef

Host: Anthony Bourdain

Network: PBS

Producers: Anthony Bourdain, Joe Caterini, Alexandra Chaden, Jonathan Cianfrani, Christopher Collins, Peter Meehan, Michael Steed, and Lydia Tenaglia

Television Segment

Friday Arts, Art of Food

Network: WHYY TV

Producer: Monica Rogozinski

Video Webcast, Fixed Location and/or Instructional

How to Cocktail

liquor.com

Producers: Kit Codik, Scott Kritz, and Noah Rothbaum

Video Webcast, On Location

The Perennial Plate: Real Food World Tour

theperennialplate.com

Hosts: Daniel Klein and Mirra Fine

Producers: Daniel Klein and Mirra Fine

Outstanding Personality/Host

Host: Andrew Zimmern

Show: Bizarre Foods America

Network: Travel Channel

Producers: Colleen Needles Steward and Andrew Zimmern

2013 James Beard Foundation Journalism Awards

For articles published in English in 2012. Winners were announced on May 3, 2013.

Publication of the Year Award

ChopChop

Cooking, Recipes, or Instruction

Matt Goulding, Matthew Kadey with Tamar Adler, and Paul Kita

Men's Health

"The Butcher Is Back!," "The Six-Pack Foods of Summer," "Southern Food Rises Again"

Craig Claiborne Distinguished Restaurant Review Award

Tejal Rao

Village Voice

"Bangkok Pop, No Fetishes," "The Sweet Taste of Success," "Enter the Comfort Zone at 606 R&D"

Food and Culture

Ann Taylor Pittman

Cooking Light

"Mississippi Chinese Lady Goes Home to Korea"

Food and Travel

Adam Sachs

Travel + Leisure

"The Best Little Eating Town in Europe"

Food Coverage in a General-Interest Publication

Men's Health

Adina Steiman

Food Politics, Policy, and the Environment

Tracie McMillan

The American Prospect with the Food & Environment Reporting Network

"As Common As Dirt"

Food-Related Columns

Adam Sachs

Bon Appétit

The Obsessivore: "I'm Big On Japan," "Everyone's a Critic," "The Tradition Starts Here"

Group Food Blog

Dark Rye

darkrye.com

Health and Well-Being

Rachael Moeller Gorman

EatingWell

"Solving the Sugar Puzzle"

Humor

Alice Laussade

Dallas Observer

"The Cheap Bastard's Ultimate Guide to Eating like a Total Cheap Bastard in Dallas"

Individual Food Blog

Hunter Angler Gardener Cook

honest-food.net

Hank Shaw

MFK Fisher Distinguished Writing Award

Mike Sula

Chicago Reader

"Chicken of the Trees"

Personal Essay

Fuchsia Dunlop

Lucky Peach

"London Town"

Profile

Brett Martin

GQ

"Danny and the Electric Kung Pao Pastrami Test"

Visual Storytelling

Michele Outland and Fiorella Valdesolo

Gather Journal

"Starters," "Dessert," "Smoke & Ash"

Wine, Spirits, and other Beverages

Michael Steinberger

vanityfair.com

"A Vintage Crime"