Let's Do Lunch at the fabulous Chicago French Market

Chicago French Market
131 N. Clinton, Chicago (entrances on Canal St. and Clinton)
http://www.chicagofrenchmarket.com/

Hours: 7 a.m.-7:30 p.m., Mon.-Fri.; 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday. Closed on Sunday. Vendor opening times vary, but all are open by 10 a.m.

The buzz continues to grow about the new Chicago French Market, located adjacent to the Ogilvie Transportation Center in Chicago between Canal and Clinton. This memorable and exciting European style market is home to a diverse collection of specialty food booths. Some vendors offer food to take home and prepare, while others offer freshly prepared gems to be enjoyed right at the market. The spacious dining area offers ample room for market goers to settle in and enjoy their treats. It’s a food lovers’ paradise so take a stroll and enjoy the adventure. If you become a regular, you’ll get to know the vendors and you’ll learn a lot about the foods. How nice to actually know your food seller!

Our suggestion: come to the market, pick up lunch, relax while you eat in the dining area, then take time to browse the aisles and pick out some fresh meat, fish or cheese, organic produce, prepared meats, fresh pasta, some wonderful bakery or chocolates to take home. If this becomes a routine, you’ll have a daily adventure that’s memorable and you’ll have some very happy family members.

When you’re inclined to do lunch at the market, here are some of the stops you should be sure to check out.

Chundy’s Bistro features Indian-fusion cuisine. There are hot meals, delicious soups, salads and sandwiches. Chundy’s offers Indian-fusion dishes, plus a variety of quality grab-and-go meals, salads, snacks and drinks. Menu highlights include cold sandwiches, meat and vegetarian Panini, soups such as green curry coconut, traditional Indian mulligatawny and lentil, salads, side dishes, a selection of chutneys and slaws and a collection of fruit and vegetable sweet breads, flatbreads, plus fresh fruit smoothies, milkshakes and iced fruit teas.

Buen Apetito is a family owned taqueria that specializes in traditional Mexican favorites with a modern flair and a focus on healthy, fresh and flavorful ingredients. The menu features grilled steak, chicken, salmon and vegetarian tacos and tostadas, plus burritos. All dishes are prepared with fresh herbs and distinctive spices. Appetizers include a hot or cold selection such as ceviche, pico de gallo or guacamole as well as tortilla soup, cebollitas or quesadillas. For the sweeter side, Buen Apetito offers Dona Marias signature flan cheesecake, rice pudding or tropical fruit medley.

FliP Crepes serves a delicious variety of savory and sweet crepes, prepared with a master’s touch using healthy ingredients such as wheat flour, buckwheat and wheat germ. FliP gets its name from its distinctive presentation: the crepes arrive on your plate in the shape of a burrito.

Saigon Sisters is an authentic Vietnamese eatery such as one would find in the bustling markets of Vietnam. This popular stop offers a more modern environment but is operated under the same principle: offer fresh delicious food and products sourced from local suppliers. Choose from the delicious Pho (noodle and broth dishes), spring rolls, herb noodle salads, and Banh mi (sandwiches). The ingredients focus on healthful, flavorful and aromatic herbs, spices, vegetables, seasoned meats and seafood from locally sourced farmers and purveyors.

RAW is the very popular stop at the Chicago French Market for raw foods. The raw food diet continues to grow in popularity, in part due to the fact that it is delicious and very satisfying. The food items are made from 100% organic raw vegan ingredients and the delicious foods taste as fresh as can be. Choices include sandwiches, salads, pizza, pastas, muffins and granola. smoothies, desserts, drinks and snack items, all made on-site.

Bowl Square serves healthy, traditional Korean fare. Korean food is also growing in popularity and here you’ll find approachable Korean food in nicely-sized portions. The menu focuses largely on simplified versions of popular Korean food with an emphasis on fresh ingredients and fast service.

Pastoral is a European-inspired, authentic neighborhood cheese shop, offering fine artisan cheeses, small production wines and freshly baked breads along with a full complement of related items such as charcuterie, olives, tapenades, honeys, jams, olive oils and artisan sweets. For lunch check out the prepared gourmet sandwiches, salads and side dishes.

Fumare Meats: You won’t find any more passionate or knowledgeable people about cured and smoked meats than these folks. Working with the finest purveyors, Fumare offers traditionally cured and smoked meats from local producers, including prosciutto, hams, smoked sausages, and bacons. You’ll find a nice selection of prepared sandwiches and side dishes. Make sure to try the old-fashioned Montreal-style smoked meat, cured and naturally smoked, peppered and slow-cooked to a well-marbled tenderness.

Frietkoten: If you love fries, you’ll have to stop here to enjoy Amsterdam’s traditional ‘fry shack’ experience: hand cut Belgian fries served in a paper cone. They’re crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, the way fries should be. Keeping with the Amsterdam tradition, there are nearly 20 different dipping sauces to choose from every day.

Espression by Lavazza raises the bar for coffee stops with a wide range of creative espresso beverages made with world-famous Lavazza coffee. This Italian company has taken Chicago by storm and the Chicago French Market location is the perfect setting. You’ll also love the gelato. Better yet, get a scoop of gelato topped with a shot of espresso.

Juice Bar is the place to go to round out your meal with fresh, squeezed-to-order fruit and vegetable juices, plus homemade smoothies made with seasonal fruits. All juices are 100% juice, with zero added sugar or concentrates.

Yelp Eats Offering $25 Dining Deals at 33 Chicago Area Restaurants June 21-27

Yelp.com, the website that connects people with great local businesses, presents Yelp Eats, June 21-27, a week-long promotion dedicated to giving consumers the chance to try local restaurants at discounted prices.

Prix fixe dinner menus are being offered at 33 restaurants throughout Chicagoland for $25. 

Restaurants participating in the promotion include:

Chicago

1492 Tapas Bar, River North 
Bin Wine Cafe, Wicker Park
Bin 36, Near North Side
Blue 13, River North
Branch 27, Noble Square
Broadway Cellars, Edgewater
Corner 41, North Center
Duchamp, Bucktown
Eve, Gold Coast
Fontana Grill, Uptown
Green Zebra, Noble Square
Kinzie Chop House, River North
La Madia, Near North Side
LM Le Restaurant, Lincoln Square
LOKal, Wicker Park
Nacional 27, River North
Sapori, Lincoln Park
Scoozi, River North
Spring, Wicker Park
State & Lake, The Loop
Thalia Spice, River West
The Drawing Room, Gold Coast
Treat, Humboldt Park

Chicago Suburbs

Birch River Grill, Arlington Heights
Bluegrass, Highland Park
Glen Prairie, Glen Ellyn
Kama Bistro, La Grange
Karma Asian Food & Wine, Mundelein
Marion Street Cheese Market, Oak Park
Meson Sabika, Naperville
Oceanique, Evanston
The Stained Glass, Evanston
Vie, Western Springs
Zak's Place, Hinsdale

These special menus are open to the public. Reservations should be made in advance by calling the business and mentioning Yelp Eats. For more information about the special menus, visit www.yelp.com/events/chicago-yelp-eats-3.

Deleece: this restaurant was always good, but now it’s approaching amazing

Deleece

4004 N. Southport, Chicago

(773) 325-1710; www.deleece.com

Hours: 5:30-10 p.m., Mon.; 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5:30-10 p.m., Tues., Wed., Thurs.; 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5:30-11 p.m., Fri.; 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5:30-11 p.m., Sat.; 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5-9 p.m., Sun.

Prices: most entrees are under than $20 and every Monday and Tuesday, Deleece features a three course special for $20!

It’s always a pleasure to write about a neighborhood spot that’s so good it’s worth a drive or L-ride, no matter where you live. So we’re happy to report that Deleece, a favorite among Lakeview residents since 1995, is better than ever and definitely worth the journey. A casual and beautifully artistic restaurant, owned by husband and wife team Lynne Wallack and John Handler, Deleece specializes in good contemporary American cuisine. With a foundation in American comforts, the restaurant brings a creative, global sensibility to its menu. The quality of the food has always set it apart from the bulk of even good neighborhood restaurants and these days, it has raised the bar even further. And topping off the good news, the menu continues to be very reasonably priced.

Four months ago, Deleece brought in a new chef, Brandon Canfield, who was recently at mk in Chicago but has also cooked in New York and San Francisco. His food is exceptional and we hope he has found a long term home at Deleece. We dined there very recently and we were very, very pleased, indeed. Canfield’s seasonal menu emphasizes fresh, local ingredients and he continues the tradition of presenting a wide assortment of flavors to please everyone.

Reading the menu, the dishes sound interesting, but not necessarily out of this world. In truth, the food is marvelous and brings the menu to life in a way we couldn’t have anticipated. We started our meal with an appetizer and salad. The Herbed Ricotta Gnocchi, with fava beans, maitake mushrooms, in white wine butter, was delicious. The gnocchi were perfectly done (not an easy feat) and the flavors were complex and fresh. The Arugula Salad was a culinary composition that was even better than the sum of its delicious parts. The honey-champagne dressing had a tantalizing sweet tartness, the honey glazed figs were a treat and, topped with a rich Stilton blue cheese, the salad was one of the best we’ve had in a long time.

We both ordered the Caramelized Salmon, a nicely-sized fillet, pan roasted with a somewhat sweet, teriyaki-like glaze, served with herbed black Chinese rice and a tasty sauté of fresh spinach and leeks in a pear ginger sauce. We were very, very happy. We asked for medium rare salmon and that’s what we got. We savored every bite, for this was one of the best salmon preparations we have ever had.

So, without dwelling on the many superlatives at Deleece, let’s run down other menu items, but keep in mind that the menu will change frequently and there are daily specials. Other current appetizer choices include Crab Risotto Cakes with truffle aioli; Chicken and Vegetable Potstickers with ginger, coriander, mustard seeds and honey; Rosemary Scented Polenta layered with sun-dried tomato and garlic pesto, wilted spinach and Ancho chili oil; Veggie spring rolls in butter lettuce salsa verde and nuoc cham.

Salad selections also include California Butter Lettuce with spiced walnuts, goat cheese, roasted peppers in a sherry vinaigrette; a Caesar salad with polenta croutons, and an entrée-sized Szechwan Salad with New York strip, napa cabbage, red cabbage, carrots, red peppers, peanuts, fried rice noodles in a basil-cilantro-mint dressing.

Additional entrées include Boneless Half Amish Chicken with a salad of fingerling potato, caramelized onion, bacon and celery, in a fig mostarda sauce; Grilled Pork Tenderloin stuffed with spinach and bacon, garlic green beans, savory apple bread pudding and champagne-caramel demi glace; Grilled New York Strip with sautéed spinach, truffle mashed potatoes and port wine demi glace. Fish lovers should also try the Grilled Halibut Steak with peas, baby carrots, chickpea fries and arugula-mint pesto. Note also that many of the sides which come with the entrées are available ala carte as well.

Deleece also presents a special $20 three-course prix fixe dinner menu on Mondays and Tuesdays and bottles of wine are half-priced on Wednesdays. There is a kids menu and the restaurant is family-friendly, without a nice outdoor seating area.

Also keep in mind that there is a second Deleece restaurant: Deleece Grill Pub, at 3313 N. Clark in Wrigleyville, which focuses more on high-quality burgers, mac-and-cheese other comfort fare.

Cindy Kurman Barrie and Lee Barrie are the principals of Kurman Communications, Inc., a Chicago-based marketing and public relations agency. Please visit their blog at www.gotbuzzatkurman.com and check out all DineWise articles at www.dinewisechicago.blogspot.com. You can follow us on Twitter @DineWise.

Delizioso: Neapolitan pizza invades Logan Square via Ciao Napoli Pizzeria

Ciao Napoli Pizzeria

2607 N. Milwaukee Ave, Chicago

(773) 278-7300

Hours: 4 p.m.-midnight, Tues.-Fri.; 11 a.m.-midnight, Sat.-Sun.; closed Monday

The welcome invasion of authentic, wood-fired Neapolitan style pizza in Chicago continues in a big way. With the recent opening of Ciao Napoli Pizzeria, Logan Square is now the proud territory to this excellent pizza and more. This contemporary styled yet homey newcomer is a good neighborhood spot. The restaurant overlooks the Square with ceiling to floor glass windows. The décor is exposed brick and beautiful rustic wood tables. The staff is super friendly and enjoys schmoozing with the guests. It’s already bustling and, although it’s not a spacious restaurant, it doesn’t feel cramped. There is an ample bar area next to the main dining room.

The main draw is the pizza, which comes in two sizes (12” and 18”), is made from fresh, mostly imported ingredients. Whether you order a tomato-sauced version or a white version, the crust is king. Thin, chewy and slightly charred on the bottom, the way it should be. Among the choices, you can order Pizza D.O.C., a traditional Margherita, with tomato, fresh bufala mozzarella and basil. Pizza alla Diavola features tomato sauce, bufala mozzarella with spicy salamino; the vegetarian Pizza Primavera comes with tomato sauce, artichokes, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, artichokes, olives and zucchini. If you’re a cheese lover, don’t miss the Pizza 6 Formaggi, featuring (only!) six cheeses. Pizza Pestum is a white pizza with bufala mozzarella, shrimp and parmigiano. Pizza Bella features tomato sauce, bufala mozzarella, eggplant, cherry tomatoes, basil, crushed black pepper, extra virgin olive oil.

There are a variety of home style appetizers and salads to start. The calamari was somewhat bland although properly cooked; some dipping sauce helps out and don’t be shy about asking for your choice of sauce to spruce it up. There are several bruschetta choices as well. You’ll also enjoy the prosciutto and mozzarella rollups.

The menu also offers several pasta dishes. For many, you can simply choose the type of pasta—fettuccini, gnocchi or penne—and your choice of sauce. Other dishes, such as Lasagna, come only as prepared, which isn’t a bad thing.

For dessert, we liked the Nutella (hazelnut spread) Italian doughnuts. You can also order tiramisu and chocolate mousse, among others.

As with many new restaurants, the food and/or timing can be a bit inconsistent. By now, however, most of the kinks should be worked out and we think it’s worth a try. If you haven’t tried this type of pizza, you’ve been waiting too long. Go for it.

Cindy Kurman Barrie and Lee Barrie are the principals of Kurman Communications, Inc., a Chicago-based marketing and public relations agency. Please visit their blog at www.gotbuzzatkurman.com and check out all DineWise articles at www.dinewisechicago.blogspot.com. You can follow us on Twitter @DineWise.

Mexican seafood lovers, the road to happiness leads to Mariscos El Veneno

Mariscos El Veneno

1024 N. Ashland Ave, Chicago; (773) 252-7200

6651 S. Pulaski, Chicago; (773) 582-5576

6835 S. Pulaksi, Chicago; (773) 735-7888

4465 S. Archer, Chicago; (773) 475-7044

1590 Busse Rd., Mt. Prospect, IL; (847) 364-9988

Hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Mon.-Thurs.; 10 a.m.-11 p.m., Fri.-Sun.

Ashland Avenue, just south of Division in the Ukrainian Village neighborhood, has become a haven for casual, family-style Mexican restaurants. Typically, they are modest, mom and pop venues that cater to a largely Hispanic neighborhood crowd. But the one that often has the line of eager diners out front is Mariscos El Veneno, an exceptional Mexican seafood restaurant that has been under the radar screen for many Chicagoans. There are three other locations in the city and one in Mt. Prospect.

This understated but festive and friendly casual eatery prepares a wide range of fish and seafood comfort dishes emanating from the Mexican west-central state of Nayarit, along the Pacific coast. These dishes are delicious and huge, huge, huge. The dining room is filled with the laughter and joy that comes from people loving their food, the staff and each others’ company.

Once you’re seated you’ll notice four bottles of hot chile sauce on the table, from mild to atomic—take your pick. Starting with the Shrimp Tostada, you’ll also notice that everything is freshly homemade and very tasty. When your server brings out the delicious taco chips and salsa, be forewarned—the salsa is HOT, HOT, VERY HOT. If you take more than a small dab, your mouth will burn for the next half hour. Trust us. So let us repeat: HOT, HOT, HOT! You’ve been forewarned.

There are many delicious starters from which to choose. The oysters on the shell are very fresh; you can order them with melted cheese if you like. You’ll also enjoy the fish or shrimp tacos. The shrimp and fish ceviches are colorful and excellent. We think that the shrimp and octopus cocktail is memorable (you can get just shrimp if you prefer). There are two sizes; the large size can actually work as a light entrée. Another wonderful cocktail specialty is the so-called Poison Cup with shrimp, octopus, oysters, clams and marlin ceviche.

Moving on to the entrées, there is also a wide selection. These huge dishes are perfect for sharing, family style. You need order 2-3 entrees for four people, depending on how hungry you are. Even then, you still may wind up taking some home. There are many favorites. One of our personal favorites is the Cucarachas, a plate full of steamed shrimp prepared al ajillo (in a rich garlic sauce). You can also order the shrimp rancheros style (butter sauce) or a la diabla (breaded in a chile sauce). These are simply perfect, as well as perfectly simple. If you would like a wider variety of seafood, go for the Chapuzón del Mar, which includes octopus, oysters and shrimp, If you’re a crab legs fan, you’ll be very pleased with the Crab Legs Nayarit Style, marinated and steamed, served with sliced cucumbers, tomatoes and onions. Other seafood specialties include Stuffed Lobster, served either Nayrarit style or in a mushroom cream sauce.

If fish is your preference you have several ways to go. Filet of fish (catch of the day) can be prepared garlic-style, butter style or breaded. If you’d like whole fried fish you can order Fried Mojarra (tilapia) or Fried Huachinango (red snapper), served three ways.

Also note that you can order platter sized dishes if you’re with a larger group. For an added touch to your meal, enjoy some garlic bread and herbed rice as sides. The specialty dessert is homemade Pina Colada pie.

Cindy Kurman Barrie and Lee Barrie are the principals of Kurman Communications, Inc., a Chicago-based marketing and public relations agency. Please visit their blog at www.gotbuzzatkurman.com and check out all DineWise articles at www.dinewisechicago.blogspot.com.

Green City Market's 12th Outdoor Season Opened Today

Reprinted from Got Buzz

Opening Grand Celebration May 15

 

Chicago's Green City Market (GCM) opened for its 12th outdoor season today (May 12) and is set for a lively grand opening celebration this Saturday (May 15). In addition to the wealth of farmers and producers, there will be a number of special activities during the opening celebration.

n 7:30 a.m. – Guided tour

n 8:00 a.m. – “Container Gardening” workshop taught by Edible

Gardens manager and organic gardener Jeanne Pinsof-Nolan

n 8:30 a.m. – Guided tour of Edible Gardens in Farm-in-the-Zoo led by

Jeanne Pinsof-Nolan

n 9:30 a.m. – Savor the Seasons Lettuce Fest

§         Featuring chefs from Mon Ami Gabi, Big Bowl, Foodlife, Frankie’s and Café Ba Ba Reeba

n 10:30 a.m. – Chef demos with James Beard award winning chefs Carrie

Nahabedian of NAHA and Sarah Stegner of Prairie Grass Café and

Prairie Fire.

§         NAHA chefs Carrie Nahabedian and Craig Harzewski will collaborate with Sarah Stegner and George Bumbaris (Prairie Grass Café and Prairie Fire) on demos featuring local goat cheese, rhubarb, duck eggs, bacon and bread from Bennison’s Bakery. Pastry chef Harzewski will demo making Goat Cheese Ice Cream topped with Rhubarb Compote made by Prairie Grass. The collaborative demos also will feature a grilled cheese, bacon and duck egg sandwich and a salad of spring greens, asparagus and herbs – all ingredients are available at GCM.

New this year:

Green City Market boasts an impressive list of 55 vendors for its 2010 outdoor season with two new vendors: Dietzler Farm and Becker Lane Organic Farm.

A family-run beef operation, Dietzler Farm is located in Elkhorn, WI. They raise a mixture of Angus and Hereford cows that are custom slaughtered and dry-aged for 28-days.  They are awaiting confirmation of their Food Alliance certification.

Becker Lane Organic Farms is Green City Market's first Iowa farm, located in Dyersville, just north of Dubuque. Jude Becker's farm has been in his family since 1850. He raises Heritage Breeds Cheshire White and Berkshire pigs. The animals graze on 100 percent Certified Organic pastures and are supplemented with acorns, corn, and hay in the winter. 

2010 James Beard Foundation Winners Announced

By Lee Barrie and Cindy Kurman

Writing restaurant features for DineWise has its perks. We’ve met a lot of wonderful restaurateurs and have eaten some tremendous meals. Along the way, we’ve been fortunate to attend a lot of fabulous events, including this week’s 2010 James Beard Foundation Awards, the nation’s most prestigious recognition program honoring professionals in the food and beverage industries.

Chicago can be proud as it takes home a number of Beard awards including two Journalism Awards, one for Multimedia Food Feature, Kevin Pang, Chicagotribune.com for “The Cheeseburger Show;” another for Newspaper Feature Writing went to Cliff Doeksen, Chicago Reader, “The Real American Pie.”

The Outstanding Service Award went to Chicago’s Alinea, chef/owner Grant Achatz. Koren Grieveson, Avec chef, took home the award for Best Chef, Great Lakes.

Whether or not nominees took home an award, being recognized by the James Beard Foundation is an honor for chefs, restaurants and journalists who cover them.

Chicago’s nominees represented our best, Michael Carlson, Schwa; Arun Sampanthavivat, Arun’s; Mindy Segal, Hot Chocolate, and Bruce Sherman, North Pond.

Journalists nominated included WLS-TV’s Hungry Hound Steve Dolinsky; Mike Sula, Chicago Reader; Kevin Pang, Chicago Tribune, and Monica Eng, Chicago Tribune. Rick Bayless was nominated as a TV Food Personality for his PBS series, Mexico One Plate at a Time.

Restaurateurs are known for mentoring young professionals interested in the business. This year’s theme embraced the idea at all levels. In addition to the luminaries, the function showcased up-and-comers at the post-event reception including Priscilla Satkoff (Salpicon), serving Miniature Tostadas with Shredded Pork, Chorizo and Roasted Tomato-Chipotle Sauce, and Curtis Duffy (Avenues) who showcased Alaskan King Crab with Cucumber Consomme, Kalamansi, Floral Cream, and Lemon Balm.

During a ceremony hosted by Lidia Bastianich, Alton Brown and Wolfgang Puck at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall, awards in the Restaurant, Chef, Design and Graphics categories were presented, as well as a number of special achievement awards including Who's Who of Food and Beverage in America, America's Classics, Lifetime Achievement, and Humanitarian of the Year. Winners of the Foundation's Book, Broadcast Media and Journalism awards categories were presented the evening before, on Sunday, May 2, 2010, at the annual Media and Book Awards dinner at Espace in New York City, hosted by Kelly Choi of Bravo's Top Chef Masters and Andrew Zimmern of the Travel Channel's Bizarre Foods.

A complete list of all award-winners can be found on www.JBFAwards.com.

Highlights from this year's list of winners include:

Outstanding Chef: Tom Colicchio (Craft, NYC)

Outstanding Restaurant: Daniel (NYC, Chef/Owner: Daniel Boulud, Owner: Joel Smilow)

Rising Star Chef: Timothy Hollingsworth (The French Laundry, Yountville, CA)

Best New Restaurant: Marea (NYC, Chef/Partner: Michael White, Partner: Chris Cannon)

In addition, special achievement award honorees included:

Who's Who of Food and Beverage in America: Leah Chase (Chef/Owner, Dooky Chase Restaurant, New Orleans, LA); Jessica B. Harris (Author and Historian, CA); Paul C.P. McIlhenny (President/CEO, McIlhenny Company, Avery Island, LA); David Rockwell (Founder/CEO, Rockwell Group, New York, NY); L. Timothy Ryan (President, Culinary Institute of America, New York, NY); Susan Spicer (Chef/Owner, Bayona, New Orleans, LA)

America's Classics: Al's French Frys (owners: Bill Bissonette and Lee Bissonette, South Burlington, VT); The Bright Star (Owners: Jimmy Koikos and Nicky Koikos, Bessemer, AL); Calumet Fisheries (Owners: The Kotlick and Toll Families, Chicago, IL); Gustavus Inn (Owners: JoAnn and David Lesh, Gustavus, AK); Mary & Tito's Cafe (Owners: Mary Gonzales and Antoinette Knight, Albuquerque, NM)

Lifetime Achievement Award: Ariane and Michael Batterberry (Founders, Food and Wine and Food Arts)

Humanitarian of the Year: Wayne Kostroski (Founder, Taste of the NFL)

The Book, Broadcast Media and Journalism awards categories were presented on Sunday, May 2, 2010, at the annual Media and Book Awards dinner at Espace in New York City. Highlights included:

Cookbook of the Year: The Country Cooking of Ireland by Colman Andrews (Chronicle Books)

Cookbook Hall of Fame: A Book of Middle Eastern Food by Claudia Roden

M.F.K. Fisher Distinguished Writing Award: Francine Prose, Saveur, "Faith and Bacon"

Television Show, In Studio or Fixed Location: French Food at Home with Laura Calder, Host: Laura Calder, Network: Food Network Canada, Producer: Johanna Eliot

Television Show, On Location: Chefs A' Field: King of Alaska, Host: Rick Moonen, Network: PBS, Producers: Heidi Hanson and Chris Warner

TV Food Personality: Andrew Zimmern, Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern, Network: The Travel Channel

Newspaper Food Section: The Washington Post, Joe Yonan

Craig Claiborne Distinguished Restaurant Reviews: Jonathan Gold, LA Weekly, "Sauced," "Hot Birria, Cold Cerveza," "Hare Today"

Website Focusing on Food, Beverage, Restaurant, or Nutrition: Chow.com, Jane Goldman

Food Blog: Serious Eats, Ed Levine, Seriouseats.com

Industry leaders from across the country attended the highly-anticipated festivities, which celebrated this year's Awards theme of "The Legacy Continues," a tribute to the enduring impact of the standards of culinary excellence set by James Beard himself and all the talented professionals who keep those traditions alive. In a nod to this year's theme, each of the Outstanding Chef winners honored over the years, including Mario Batali, Thomas Keller, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Daniel Boulud, Nancy Silverton, Rick Bayless, Grant Achatz, Alfred Portale, Dan Barber, Larry Forgione and David Bouley, served as award presenters throughout the evening at the Awards Ceremony on Monday, May 3, 2010. At the Gala Reception immediately following the Awards Ceremony, guests enjoyed a dine-around gala prepared by notable chefs from across the country, each of whom was personally selected by a past Outstanding Chef winner.

Established in 1990, the James Beard Foundation Awards recognize culinary professionals for excellence and achievement in their fields and continue to emphasize the Foundation's mission: to celebrate, preserve, and nurture America's culinary heritage and diversity. The annual James Beard Foundation Awards honor the best and the brightest talents in the food and beverage industries, celebrating outstanding achievement in each of the following categories: Restaurant and Chef, Restaurant Design and Graphics, Books, Broadcast Media, Journalism, and special achievement awards. Each category has an individual Awards Committee made up of industry professionals who volunteer their time to oversee the policies, procedures, and selection of judges for their respective Awards program. All award winners receive a certificate and a bronze medallion engraved with the James Beard Foundation Awards insignia. There are no cash prizes.

The 2010 James Beard Foundation Awards are presented with support by the following companies: In Association Sponsors: All-Clad Metalcrafters, Visa Signature®; Premier Sponsors: Green and Black's® Organic Chocolate, Lenox Tableware and Gifts, Mercedes-Benz; Supporting Sponsors: The Coca-Cola Company, Delta Air Lines, Food Network NYC Wine and Food Festival, illy caffe North America, Inc., Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, Southern Wine and Spirits of New York, Stella Artois; Gala Reception Sponsors: Acqua Panna® Natural Spring Water, Beijing Tourism Administration, Ecolab, Food Network South Beach Wine and Food Festival, Pernod Ricard USA, Rums of Puerto Rico, S.Pellegrino® Sparkling Natural Mineral Water; Media Sponsor: The Wall Street Journal and with additional support from Chefwear.

About the James Beard Foundation

Founded in 1986, the James Beard Foundation is dedicated to celebrating, preserving, and nurturing America's culinary heritage and diversity in order to elevate the appreciation of our culinary excellence. A cookbook author and teacher with an encyclopedic knowledge about food, James Beard, who died in 1985, was a champion of American cuisine. He helped educate and mentor generations of professional chefs and food enthusiasts. Today, the Beard Foundation continues in the same spirit by administering a number of diverse programs that include educational initiatives, food industry awards, scholarships to culinary schools, and publications, and by maintaining the historic James Beard House in New York City's Greenwich Village as a "performance space" for visiting chefs. For more information, please visit http://www.jamesbeard.org/. Find insights on food at the James Beard Foundation's blog Delights & Prejudices. Join the James Beard Foundation on Facebook. Follow the James Beard Foundation on Twitter.

Photos of the May 2 Media & Cookbook Awards.
Photos of the May 3 Awards.

Photos: 
Cindy Kurman and Lidia Bastianich
Grant Achatz and Lee Barrie
Mindy Segal and friend
Kevin Pang and Andrew Zimmern

DineWise is a weekly column appearing in StreetWise magazine. Lee Barrie is on the StreetWise board of directors and he and his wife Cindy own Kurman Communications, a Chicago-based public relations agency specializing in lifestyle, restaurant and hospitality strategic branding, marketing promotions, media relations and social networking. If you'd like your restaurant to be featured on the DineWise blog and in StreetWise magazine, please contact dinewise@kurman.com. You can follow DineWise on Twitter @Dinewise and follow us @kurmanstaff.