James Beard Award Winners 2008

The 2008 James Beard Awards for America’s best restaurants, chefs and other industry notables were handed out on Sunday night, June 8 in Avery Fisher Hall at New York City’s Lincoln Center. Check out the menus of winning restaurants and chefs.

Outstanding restaurateur
Joe Bastianich/Mario Batali
Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca
New York City
 
Outstanding chef
Grant Achatz
Alinea
Chicago, Illinois
 
Outstanding restaurant
Owner: Danny Meyer
Gramercy Tavern
New York City
 
Best new restaurant
Chef/Owner: Michel Richard
Central Michel Richard
Washington, D.C.
 
Rising star chef of the year
Gavin Kaysen
Café Boulud
New York City
 
Outstanding pastry chef
Elisabeth Prueitt and Chad Robertson
Tartine Bakery
San Francisco
 
Best chef: Pacific
Craig Stoll
Delfina
San Francisco
 
Best chef: Mid-Atlantic
Eric Ziebold
CityZen
Washington, D.C.

 
Best chef: Midwest
Adam Siegel
Bartolotta's Lake Park Bistro
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
 
Best chef: Great Lakes
Carrie Nahabedian
Naha
Chicago, Illinois
 
Best chef: New York City
David Chang
Momofuku Ssäm Bar
 
Best chef: Northeast
Patrick Connolly
Radius
Boston, Massachusetts
 
Best chef: Northwest

Holly Smith
Café Juanita
Kirkland, Washington

 
Best chef: Southeast
Robert Stehling
Hominy Grill
Charleston, South Carolina
 
Best chef: Southwest
Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson
Frasca Food and Wine
Boulder, Colorado
 
Best chef: South
Michelle Bernstein
Michy's
Miami, Florida
 
Outstanding wine service
Wine Director: John Ragan
Eleven Madison Park
New York City

Outstanding service
Owners: Hiro Sone and Lissa Doumani
Terra
St. Helena, California

American Classics Awards
Owner: Judy Astbury
Bagaduce Lunch
19 Bridge Road (Route 176), Brooksville, Maine

Owner: Irma Galvan
Irma's Restaurant
22 N. Chenevert Street, Houston, Texas

Owner: Jean Nakayama
Maneki
304 Sixth Avenue South, Seattle, Washington

Owner: Robert Flam
Jumbo’s
7501 NW 7th Avenue, Miami, Florida

Owner: Joseph DiBuono
Tufano’s Vernon Park Tap
1073 Vernon Park Place, Chicago, Illinois

Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.

Multimedia

Exclusive Content

Operations

Trend or fad? These restaurant currents could go either way

Reality Check: A number of ripples were evident in the business during the first half of the year. The question is, do they have staying power?

Financing

Starbucks' value offer is a bad idea

The Bottom Line: It’s not entirely clear that price is the reason Starbucks is losing traffic. If it isn’t, the company’s new value offer could backfire.

Financing

Struggling I Heart Mac and Cheese franchisees push back against their franchisor

Operators say most of them aren't making money and want a break on their royalties. But they also complain about receiving expired cheese from closed stores. "Don't send us moldy product."

Trending

More from our partners