Winners Announced For The 2008 James Beard Foundation Media Awards

The James Beard Foundation, the nation's preeminent recognition program honoring professionals in the food and beverage industries, announced today the winners in the 18 media categories of the 2008 James Beard Foundation Awards. The awards were presented during a ceremony hosted by journalists and James Beard Award winning authors Matt Lee and Ted Lee at the Hudson Theatre in New York City. The winners are:



� MFK Fisher Distinguished Writing Award: Junot Diaz, Gourmet, "He'll Take El Alto" (9/07)

� Multimedia Writing on Food: Josh Ozersky and Daniel Maurer, NYmag.com's Grub Street Blog

� Website Focusing on Food, Beverage, Restaurant or Nutrition: Epicurious.com, Tanya Steel

� Food Related Columns: Corby Kummer, The Atlantic, "The Rise of the Sardine," "The Art of Aging Well," The Magic Brewing Machine" (7-8/07, 11/07, 12/07)

� Reporting on Nutrition or Food-Related Consumer Issues: Peter Jaret, Eating Well Magazine, "The Search for the Anti-Aging Diet" (11-12/07)

� Restaurant Reviews: Brad A. Johnson, Angeleno, "Hampton's," "Sona," "The Penthouse" (3/07, 4/07, 5/07)

� Newspaper Feature Writing with Recipes: Katy McLaughlin, The Wall Street Journal, "A New Taste Sensation" (12/8/07)

� Newspaper Feature Writing Without Recipes: David Leite, The New York Times, "In a '64 T-Bird Chasing a Date With a Clam" (8/29/07)

� Writing on Spirits, Wine or Beer: David Darlington, Wine & Spirits Magazine, "Postmodern Deliciousness: The World According to Clark Smith" (4/07)

� Magazine Feature Writing About Restaurants and/or Chefs: Howie Kahn, GQ, "The Wandering Chef" (6/07)

� Magazine Feature Writing with Recipes: Betty Fussell, Saveur, "American Prime" (6-7/07)

� Magazine Feature Writing Without Recipes: Manny Howard, New York Magazine, "My Empire of Dirt" (9/17/07)

� Newspaper Feature Writing About Restaurants and/or Chefs: Brett Anderson, The Times-Picayune, "Landmark Decisions: A Five-Part Series Chronicling the Ruin and Restoration of a Classic New Orleans Restaurant" (9/2/07-9/6/07)

� Television Food Show, National or Local: Gourmet's Diary of a Foodie; Host: Ruth Reichl

� Television Food Special: Top Chef Holiday Special; Hosts: Tom Collicchio and Padma Lakshmi

� Television Food Segment, National or Local: The Victory Garden; Host: Michel Nischan

� Radio Food Show: The Splendid Table; Host: Lynne Rossetto Kasper

� Webcast: Stewards of the Land; Hosts: Jay Selman, Brian Clark, Eric Anderson



Judges for the media awards include journalism professors, veteran journalists and editors (not covering the topics of food and beverage) as well as former food and wine writers and editors. Ballot tabulation was conducted by independent accounting firm Lutz & Carr.



Winners of the Restaurant and Chef, Books, and Design and Graphics awards will be announced on Sunday, June 8, 2008 at the Awards Ceremony and Gala Reception, the highly-anticipated annual celebration taking place at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center and hosted by Kim Cattrall and Bobby Flay this year. On Saturday, June 7, 2008, the James Beard Foundation Who's Who of Food & Beverage in America Awards will be announced at an invitation-only reception hosted by Gourmet magazine, marking the first time the Foundation will honor the new Who's Who inductees at a separate event. All award winners will receive a certificate and a bronze medallion engraved with the James Beard Foundation Awards