2010 James Beard Foundation Awards, Part 1
Andrew Zimmern and friends. Photograph: Adam Robb / Eat Me Daily
After hours of passing thunderstorms, the sun finally joined the chefs for their arrival on the red carpet at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall for the James Beard Foundation's annual awards ceremony. Not everyone was keen to pose for the cameras, so we shunned our spot on the press line to catch some impromptu arrivals.
Inside, as the Star Wars soundtrack played on small fixed monitors around the press room, two things were obvious. The Beard Awards were Star Wars themed, particularly inspired by the medal ceremony at the end of A New Hope, and the accompanying music within was an imperial march to the open bar.
The restaurant industry's shining stars break out their nattiest duds, below.
Photograph: Adam Robb / Eat Me Daily
Top Chef Masters' Kelly Choi laughed and lingered on the plaza showing off her Sue Wong dress.
Photograph: Adam Robb / Eat Me Daily
Ted Allen received some last minute grooming with Wylie Dufresne serving as mirror.
Photograph: Adam Robb / Eat Me Daily
Photograph: Adam Robb / Eat Me Daily
Restaurateur and Drew Nieporent played the role of paparazzo on the press line where he was free to smoke a cigar.
Photograph: Adam Robb / Eat Me Daily
Ken Friedman, co-owner of The Spotted Pig in New York.
Photograph: Adam Robb / Eat Me Daily
David Chang of the Momofuku empire.
Photograph: Adam Robb / Eat Me Daily
Thomas Keller avoids the carpet to mingle with chefs on the plaza.
Photograph: Adam Robb / Eat Me Daily
Mario Batali circumvents the carpet and outruns photographers to find his seat inside.
—Adam Robb
