Michael Schwartz, Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink, Miami, is the winner of the 2010 James Beard Foundation award for Best Chef in the South Region. Schwartz was awarded his medal earlier this evening in a ceremony at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall in New York.
Daniel Boulud, who was in Central Florida serving guests at the Jetport Food and Wine Festival just two weeks ago, took the Outstanding Restaurant Award for his Daniel. Tom Colicchio is the winner of the Outstanding Chef prize. Keith McNally (Balthazar, Lucky Strike, Minetta Tavern, Morandi, Pastis, Pravda, and Schiller’s Liquor Bar, NYC) was name Outstanding Restaurateur.
The black-tie affair, often referred to as the Academy Awards of the culinary world, began at 6 p.m. At this hour, attendees are enjoying the after party in the lobby of the Avery Fisher Hall featuring food prepared by a calvacade of chefs. After that, guest generally fan out across Manhattan for after after parties.
I’ll have the full list of winners tomorrow.