Yes. There was a breakfast this morning at the James Beard House to announce the Award Nominees for 2007.
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Between bites of truffled scrambled eggs and pain au chocolate, I sent out a text to David Chang: U R nominated 4 2 beard awards. To which he replied: holy shit. Said awards are for outstanding new restaurant, Momofuku Ssam Bar, and rising star chef.
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Text to Will Goldfarb: U R nominated 4 beard award pastry. To which he replied: wow.
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There is plenty of time to debate and handicap the nominations before the Awards are handed out on May 7th, but first a few off-the-cuff, over-caffeinated observations after the jump.
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- There's not a single sommelier or restaurant person nominated in the outstanding wine and spirits professional category. It's one cocktail king and the rest are winemakers and sellers.
- The awards this year take place in the new venue of Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, with a new etiquette in effect. In past years, the ceremony at the Marriott Marquee had an almost cocktail party vibe, because people would flow in and out of the theatre during the three-hour ceremony. Take a seat for your award, run out into the hall to congratulate your friends. Sneak into the press room for a glass of champagne. This year - it will be like the real theatre. Once you take your seat, there's no leaving until the very very end.
- It is perfectly acceptable to have the chef de cuisine nominated, even if someone else's name is on the door. Meaning, if the JBF acknowledges that Lee Hefter at Wolfgang Puck's Spago is one of the best chefs in the country, or that Patrick Connelly at Michael Schlow's Radius is a rising star chef, isn't it perhaps time for the media to follow suit and give the chefs of empires a bit of a break?
- Amidst the crowd of invited sponsors, publicists, personalities and press, there was one other blog in the mix, Eater. Gentlemen, welcome to the establishment, get a drink and enjoy the party.
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