May 04, 2005

Babbo, Per Se, Craft, Veritas garner Beard awards

The James Beard Association announced its annual best chef awards, and wouldn't you know it, New York made out pretty well.

Mario Batali was named the outstanding chef overall for Babbo, while best chef for the New York City category went to Andrew Carmellini of Café Boulud. (Though Manhattan User's Guide points out that Carmellini is leaving the restaurant this week.)

Karen DeMasco of Craft was named outstanding pastry chef. (If you go to StarChef.com, you can get her recipe for hazelnut hot chocolate.)

Thomas Keller's Per Se won for best new restaurant, and Danny Meyer was named outstanding restaurateur for his Union Square Hospitality Group, which includes The Modern, Union Square Cafe, Gramercy Tavern, Eleven Madison Park, Tabla and Blue Smoke.

Tim Kopec, the wine director at Veritas, took home the award for outstanding wine service while Joseph Bastianich of the Italian Wine Merchants shop just off Union Square was dubbed the year's outstanding wine and spirits professional.

May 4, 2005 10:05 AM in Foodology

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