2008 James Beard Awards

"To celebrate, preserve, and nurture America’s culinary heritage and diversity in order to elevate the appreciation of our culinary excellence."

Below is the list of the 2008 James Beard awards. I was especially happy to see that Peter Reinhart's Whole Grain Breads: New Techniques, Extraordinary Flavor. This is one of my favorite bread books in existence. Peter Reinhart's books will take you to an all new level of bread understanding. LONG LIVE PETER REINHART! (Ok, I'm done now)

I think it's pretty obvious that there are no losers here. Each category has three nominees with the winner being awarded the James Beard medal. I have also included their pictures because sometimes it's easy for these artisans to become faceless names.

(Source: James Beard 2008 Awards List)

Baking and Desserts

A Baker's Odyssey
by Greg Patent
(John Wiley & Sons)

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Award Winner
Peter Reinhart's Whole Grain Breads: New Techniques, Extraordinary Flavor
by Peter Reinhart

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Pure Dessert
by Alice Medrich
(Artisan)

INTERNATIONAL

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Award Winner
The Country Cooking of France
by Anne Willan
(Chronicle Books)

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Lidia's Italy: 140 Simple and Delicious Recipes from the Ten Places in Italy Lidia Loves Most
by Lidia Matticchio Bastianich and Tanya Bastianich Manuali
(Alfred A. Knopf)

Two Meatballs in the Italian Kitchen
by Pino Luongo and Mark Strausman
(Artisan)

WRITING ON FOOD

American Food Writing: An Anthology with Classic Recipes
edited by Molly O'Neill
(The Library of America)

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Award Winner
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life
by Barbara Kingsolver
(HarperCollins Publishers)

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Rethinking Thin: The New Science of Weight Loss-and the Myths and Realities of Dieting by Gina Kolata

PHOTOGRAPHY

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Award Winner
The Country Cooking of France
Photographer: France Ruffenach
(Chronicle Books)

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Crust
Photographer: Jean Cazals
(Kyle Books)

Egg
Photographer: Grant Symon
(Éditions Flammarion)

WEBSITE FOCUSING ON FOOD, BEVERAGE, RESTAURANT, OR NUTRITION

Chow.com
Jane Goldman

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Award Winner
Epicurious.com
Tanya Steel

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Starchefs.com
Antoinette F. Bruno

TELEVISION FOOD SPECIAL

Bocuse d'Or 2007
Network: Shaw Cable, Victoria, BC, Canada
Producer: Nick Versteeg

Foods of Chicago: A Delicious History
Host: Geoffrey Baer
Network: WTTW
Producer: Dan Protess

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Award Winner
Top Chef Holiday Special
Hosts: Tom Colicchio and Padma Lakshmi
Network: Bravo
Producers: Andy Cohen, Dave Serwatka, Frances Berwick, Shauna Minoprio, Dan Cutforth, and Jane Lipsitz

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TELEVISION FOOD SHOW, NATIONAL AND LOCAL

The Best Recipes in the World with Mark Bittman
Host: Mark Bittman
Network: American Public Television
Producer: Charlie Pinsky

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Award Winner
Gourmet's Diary of a Foodie
Network: American Public Television
Producers: Ruth Reichl, Laurie Donnelly, Lydia Tenaglia, Chris Collins, Giulio Capua, and Robert Curran

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Top Chef Season 3
Hosts: Tom Colicchio and Padma Lakshmi
Network: Bravo
Producers: Andy Cohen, Dave Serwatka, Frances Berwick, Shauna Minoprio, Dan Cutforth, and Jane Lipsitz

WEBCAST

Obsessives: Innard Workings
www.chow.com
Producers: Meredith Arthur and Eric Slatkin

Spatulatta
Host: Olivia Gerasole and Isabella Gerasole
www.spatulatta.com
Producers: Gaylon Emerzian and Heidi Umbhau

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Award Winner
Stewards of the Land
Hosts: Jay Selman, Brian Clark and Eric Anderson

Graperadio.com

Producers: Mark Ryan and Jay Selman

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OUTSTANDING PASTRY CHEF AWARD

Gina DePalma
Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca
NYC

Pichet Ong
P*ONG, NYC

Nicole Plue
Redd, Yountville, CA

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Award Winner
Elisabeth Prueitt and Chad Robertson
Tartine Bakery
San Francisco

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Mindy Segal
HotChocolate
Chicago

...and for the final category...

Who's Who of Food & Beverage in America

There were several people listed in this category but we found one to be the most interesting:

Steve Sullivan
Founder/Owner, Acme Bread Company, Berkeley, CA

The fact that a bread baker is making the "Who's Who" in the James Beard world shows how artisan bread and their creators are starting to earn their day in the spotlight.

I hope you enjoyed this rundown of the 2008 James Beard Awards. Make sure to tune in for the 2009 Awards in March!

Do you have any of these books by the awarded Chef's or Authors? Do regularly visit any of the awarded websites?

Tell us all about your experiences!