The partners at
Green Olive Media have been members of the James Beard Foundation for nearly 20
years. The Foundation is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to
celebrating, nurturing and preserving America’s diverse culinary heritage and
future. It was started in 1986 by Peter Kump, a former student of James Beard
and founder of the Institute of Culinary Education. At Julia Child's
suggestion, Kump purchased Beard's New York brownstone at 167 West 12th Street
in Greenwich Village, and preserved it as a gathering place where the general
public and press can appreciate the talents of established and emerging chefs.
Over the years
we have made a great friend in Izabela Wojcik, the Director of House
Programming for the James Beard Foundation. Izabela oversees more than
250 special events held at the historic James Beard House, which features
chefs, pastry chefs and winemakers from across the United States and
beyond. She is the ultimate trendsetter for our industry. When a
great story needs to be told, oftentimes we begin a conversation with Izabela
in hopes that we can book a chef to cook at the Beard House. An
invitation to cook at the House is a great honor – many chefs think of the
House as the grandest stage in the business.
How it
works…recommendations for potential chefs can come from various sources: other
chefs, JBF members, staff, volunteer program committee members, etc…. We only
nominate chefs we feel have a significant story to tell; chefs we believe are
worth knowing and are on their way to greatness.
To give you a
little backgrounder into some of the dinners we have pitched and planned over
the years, take a look below. We look forward to many more years of working the
Izabela and her team.
James Beard
Dinners
Drew Van Leuvan
– February 18, 2015
Anthony
Gray * - December 18,
2014
Duane
Nutter - April 16,
2014
Ron Eyester –
February 17, 2012
Brandon Frohne –
November 28, 2013
Linda Harrell +
Justin Keith + Ron Eyester + Christopher "Chappy" Chappell, Jr. -
December 17, 2007
Jonathan and
Justin Fox – June 6, 2014
Shaun Doty –
February 3, 2010
Carvel Grant
Gould – May 14, 2009
Sean Brock -
January 16, 2008
Hugh Acheson +
Jason Alley + Ford Fry + Linton Hopkins + Angie Mosier – August 23, 2007
Joel Antunes +
Nicolas Bour + Shaun Doty + Lien Schoe – November 16, 2004
