The culinary community gathered on Saturday, July 23, to honor a very special guest. Daytime Emmy and multiple James Beard Foundation Award–winning chef, author and restaurateur John Besh was the guest of honor at the 26th annual Chefs & Champagne, an event hosted by the James Beard Foundation.
The summertime culinary Chefs & Champagne event was held at the Wölffer Estate Vineyard in Sagaponack, New York, and 1.000 attendees had the pleasure to toast John Besh, who is also the founder of the John Besh Foundation. Of course, the glasses were full with Barons de Rothschild champagne, accompanied by wines and ciders from Wölffer Estate Vineyard, and tasteful delicacies.
The guest had the chance to participate in a silent auction with fine-dining experiences, wines and spirits, cookware, and culinary travel packages. The auction raised over $75,000 and now the James Beard Foundation is able to support educational programs such as the annual Food Conference and Leadership Awards that is committed to promote a better food system.
Also, the James Beard Foundation was proud to announce Evelyn Q. Grant as the recipient of the 2016 Christian Wölffer Scholarship and the ICC Intensive Sommelier Course tuition waiver. The Foundation is continuing its long tradition to support the culinary arts and support people you are ready to excel on the field.
More than 40 chefs participated and offered their skills. The list included Chad Brauze, (The Back Room, Park Hyatt), James Beard Award winner Tim Cushman, ( O Ya), Tom Fraker and Marco Zapien (Melissa’s), Lucero Martinez (Pampano), BF Award–Winning pastry chef Sherry Yard (iPic Entertainment) and much more.
The guest of honor and celebrated chef John Besh has dedicated his career to the culinary riches of southern Louisiana. He may be a famous chef but he is also the author of four cookbooks: My New Orleans (October 2009) and My Family Table(November 2011), Cooking From The Heart (October 2013) and Besh Big Easy (September 2015). He is also the host of two cooking shows, Chef John Besh’s New Orleans and Chef John Besh’s Family Table. In 2011, he founded the John Besh Foundation, which aims to protect and continue the culinary heritage and foodways of New Orleans.
The immaculate event was successfully hosted by the James Beard Foundation. Founded in 1986, the foundation, celebrates America’s diverse culinary heritage through programs that educate and inspire. A cookbook author and teacher, James Beard, was a champion of American cuisine. He helped educate and mentor many professional chefs and food enthusiasts, teaching them the value of wholesome, healthful, and delicious food. Today JBF continues in the same spirit by administering a number of diverse programs that include educational initiatives, food industry awards, scholarships for culinary students, publications, chef advocacy training, and thought-leader convening. The Foundation also maintains the historic James Beard House in New York City’s Greenwich Village as a “performance space” for visiting chefs. For more information, you can visit the website jamesbeard.org. You can also get JBF news, recipes, and more at the James Beard Foundation’s blog. The James Beard Foundation has a Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram accounts.
Apart from Wölffer Estate Vineyard as the host venue, exclusive Champagne from Champagne Barons de Rothschild, VIP after-party sponsor Neuman’s Kitchen, Events & Catering, 2016 event sponsors included Antigua and Barbuda; Audi; Badoit® Sparkling Natural Mineral Water; evian® Natural Spring Water; Goose Island Beer Company; Gokokuya; Hamptons magazine; Maille; Melissa’s; Royal Cup Coffee and Tea; Sturia Caviar; Tito’s Handmade Vodka; VerTerra Dinnerware; and VVH-TV.