We Just Didn't Put Enough Effort In This Year, Kids
Aside from Best Restaurateur Thomas Keller (shocking), the Bay Area produced a mere two victors at last night's James Beard Foundation Awards.
Paul Draper of Cupertino's Ridge Vineyards took home the Outstanding Wine and Spirits Professional Award, and Traci Des Jardins of Jardiniere topped Roland Passot (La Folie), Michael Tusk (Quince), Douglas Keane (Cyrus) and Craig Stoll (Delfina) for Best Chef: Pacific Region.
Among the Bay Area losers: Elisabeth Pruiett and Chad Robertson of Tartine Bakery lost to Michael Laskonis of NYC's Le Bernardin in the Outstanding Pastry Chef category; Boulevard lost to Frontera Grill (Chicago) in the Outstanding Restaurant category; and A16's Nate Appleman lost to David Chang of Momofuku Noodle Bar (NY) in the Rising Star Chef of the Year.
Well, there's always next year.
The James Beard Foundation Awards [official site]
