DPD Snubbed By James Beard Awards – But Our Guests Aren’t

The James Beard Awards are sort of like the Oscars of food. Every year, the best chefs, bar and wine professionals, restaurants, and cookbooks are honored by the foundation named after legendary culinary educator – and cookbook author – James Beard. The Beard Foundation also gives out awards for food journalism – for which we, mysteriously, were passed over again this year. That oversight aside, two of the 2013 finalists, announced today, have been featured on The Dinner Party Download – and we can only assume that they will carry the day…
In the “Cookbooks: Writing and Literature” category, Chef Marcus Samuelsson’s memoir Yes, Chef gets a nod. Chef Samuelsson (who has previously won both a Beard Award and Top Chef Masters) talked to Brendan about tough love in culinary school – and how he could have ended up on a soccer field instead of in a kitchen. He also told us a joke that will *kill*…at your Swedish dinner parties.
Of course, the “Outstanding Bar Program” award has a special place in our booze-happy hearts – and we’re rooting for The Violet Hour. Their bartender Nandini Khaund whipped up a particularly delightful concoction for us to celebrate Chicago’s history of shady, smoke-filled rooms – which obviously in no way reflects on the James Beard Foundation’s selection process (unless they’re interested in making a deal with us…).