Q & A: Rick Bayless

by jbfauthor on June 10, 2009

Tonight we'll be tuning in to the premiere of Bravo's Top Chef Masters to root for all the contestants who are JBF Award winners or nominees. Among them is Rick Bayless, whose restaurant, Frontera Grill, won the medal for Outstanding Restaurant in 2007. He's competing for his charity, Frontera Farmer Foundation, which supports small Midwestern farms that practice sustainability. We caught up with the Chicago-based chef at last year's JBF Awards gala, when the event's theme was "Artisanal America."

James Beard Foundation: What would you eat for your last meal on earth? Rick Bayless: Something in a tortilla for sure. JBF: What’s your earliest food memory? RB: Peeling peaches with my grandmother. JBF: What’s your favorite regional ingredient? RB... Read more >

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The Bookshelf: A Year of Wine

by jbfauthor on June 09, 2009

Author of the highly praised Dr. Vino blog, Tyler Colman brings a budget-conscious and highly seasonal approach to wine that guarantees greater enjoyment. In anticipation of Colman’s appearance at tomorrow’s Beard on Books, we asked the wine expert and author of A Year of Wine: Perfect Pairings, Great Buys, and What to Sip for Each Season for his top summer wine picks. La Spinetta, Moscato d'Asti (about $15) This is probably the ultimate wine for sipping poolside with a light fizz, peachy aromas, and five percent alcohol. Because it is slightly sweet, it's also a perfect wine for newbies. Wild Rock, Sauvignon Blanc 2008 (about $15) This kiwi Sauvignon Blanc has the customary refreshing acidity but adds an aromatic lift from a dash of riesling and viognier. Pair with lunch on the

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MemorEATS: José Andrés

by jbfauthor on June 08, 2009

“When I was just starting out I worked in a restaurant where I prepared canelones, Catalan stuffed pasta. The restaurant’s dining room had a huge fish tank. And we had a pan as long as me that we used for the canelones. One day I was showing off and brought the hot pan right out of the oven and into the dining room. I lost control and somehow managed to dump it into the fish tank!” –JBF Award Winner José Andrés

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On the Menu: June 8 to June 13

by jbfauthor on June 05, 2009

Here’s what happening at the Beard House next week: Monday, June 8, 7:00 p.m. Boutique Napa Wine Dinner Joel Harloff, Dali Wine Bar, Dallas / Proprietor Kathryn Walt Hall, Hall Wines Napa Valley, St. Helena, CA Wednesday, June 10, 12:00 p.m. Beard on Books Tyler Colman, A Year of Wine: Perfect Pairings, Great Buys, and What to Sip for Each Season Wednesday, June 10, 7:00 p.m. Summer Sail Ben Pollinger and Pastry Chef Jansen Chan, Oceana, NYC For details and reservations, visit www.jamesbeard.org or call 212.627.2308. (Photo by Eileen

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