Top Culinary Awards Recognize Excellence

New York, April 2005  Two Deans, at The French Culinary Institute (The FCI), and four alumni have been recognized by the prestigious James Beard Foundation Awards, the nation's top honors in the fine food and beverage industry, according to The FCI Founder and CEO Dorothy Cann Hamilton.

Jacques Pipin, Dean of Special Programs will receive The James Beard Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual Awards ceremony on Monday, May 2, in New York City. In addition, Pipin was also nominated for his cooking show: Fast Food My Way. Dean of Food Journalism Alan Richman has been nominated for a James Beard Foundation Journalism Award. Richman has already received a record 11 Awards. And, alum Bobby Flay has received two nominations for a Broadcast Media Award in the category of "Television Food Show, National" for both Hot & Spicy Fiesta with Bon Appitit and Bobby Flay Chef Mentor. FCI alumni have also been nominated for Best New Chef in three regions including: New York City, Northwest/Hawaii, and Mid-Atlantic.

"We are honored the school has been recognized by the finest of the food and beverage industry. When I founded The FCI 21 years ago I had a vision of training the best chefs in the world by the tradition of hands-on, Total ImmersionSM learning. Today, The FCI is one of the most prestigious culinary institutions in the world, thanks to our distinguished faculty," said Hamilton.

And The FCI Alumni/Dean Nominees are:

CATEGORY:

Television Food Show, National

Title: Bobbly Flay, Chef Mentor
Host: Bobby Flay, The FCI, '84
Network: The Food Network
Executive Producer: Kim Martin
Producer: Michael Sheridan



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Beard Nominations and The FCI/Page Two


Title: Hot and Spicy Fiesta with Bon Appitit
Co Host: Bobby Flay, The FCI, '84
Network: The Food Network
Producer: Stuart Zanger


Title: Fast Food My Way
Host: Jacques Pipin, Dean of Special Programs
Network: National Public Television
Executive Producer: D.L. McGuire
Producer: Susie Heller

Magazine Restaurant Review or Critique

Journalist: Alan Richman, Dean of Food Journalism
Magazine: Gentlemen's Quarterly (GQ)

Magazine Feature Writing About Restaurants/and or chefs With or Without Recipes

Journalist: Maile Carpenter, The FCI, '99
Magazine: San Francisco Magazine
Title: "King of the Mall"
Date of Publication: August 2004

Illy Best New Restaurant

Chef/Partner: Dan Barber, The FCI, '94
Restaurant: Blue Hill at Stone Barns
Address: 630 Bedford Road, Pocantico Hills, NY Ph: 914-366-9600

American Express Best Chef: New York City

Chef/Owner: Dan Barber, The FCI, '94
Restaurant: Blue Hill
Address: 75 Washington Place, NY, NY Ph: 212-539-1776


American Express Best Chef: Northwest/Hawaii

Chef/Owner: Vitaly Paley, The FCI, '90
Restaurant: Paley's Place Bistro & Bar
Address: 1204 NW 21st Avenue, Portland, OR Ph: 503-243-2403


American Express Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic

Chef: Marc Vetri, The FCI, '98
Restaurant: Vetri
Address: 1312 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA Ph: 215-732-3478



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The awards winners will be announced at the 15th Annual James Beard Foundation Awards and Gala Reception, on May 2nd at the Marriot Marquis, in New York City. The James Beard Foundation Awards recipients are selected by more than 600 food and beverage industry professionals who vote by confidential ballot in one or more award categories depending on their expertise. For more information on the awards, visit www.jamesbeard.org or call 212.367.9490 or 866-362-6442 for reservations.

The French Culinary Institute, located in the heart of NYC