Sunday Photos – In the Green Room and Beyond at The James Beard Awards

Once the red carpet was through I headed to the Green Room of Avery Fisher hall at Lincoln Center, ground zero for the media covering the event, to partake in festivities and await the winners as they were announced and paraded through the room. There was a lot of media for a very small room and things got tight, but still fun. There were some very nice things to nibble on, too like the caviars from The California Caviar Company.

Jeff Chin, Caroline Rolniak, Greg Grossman and Lisa Mamounas at the Caviar Bar early in the evening.

We were encouraged to eat the caviar off the backs of our hands. later, some ate off of other body parts.

Hand cut Spanish cured Mangalica jamón made from Hungarian Mangalitsa pigs and supplied by D’Artagnan – delicious!

D’Artagnan’s Ariane Daguin passed out “Save the Foie” pins to lobby for repeal of California’s impending ban of foie gras. The pins were quite popular.

The first winner of the evening (at least as far as we knew) for Rising Star Chef went to Momofuko Milk Bar’s Christina Tosi.

Photographer extraordinaire, Michael Harlan Turkell, working way backstage.

Steven and Craig Huse, owners of St. Elmo’s Steak House in Indianapolis and receiver of an Award as “An American Classic“

Award winning food and wine writer, Karen Page, tweeting results from the green room.

Eatocracy’s managing Editor, Kat Kinsman, tweeting very seriously via Tweetdeck.

North Pond’s Bruce Sherman won the award for Best Chef: Great Lakes.

Kathryn Tygum Taylor co-owner of Nora’s Fish Creek Inn in Wilson, WY accepted an award on behalf of the restaurant for being “An American Classic“

Karen Page and Cat Silirie, who won the award for Outstanding Wine Program on behalf of No. 9 Park in Boston

Wine and food writer and now Spanish wine importer, Gerry Dawes and his hand made “whisk” bow tie

Gail Simmons and in the background, JBF award winner for Television Program, In Studio or Fixed Location, Ted Allen

Tory Miller of L’Etoile in Madison, WI, winner of the award for Best Chef: Mid-West.

Michael Anthony of Gramercy Tavern, winner of Best Chef: New York

Jim Meehan of NYC’s PDT (Please Don’t Tell), recipient of the award for Best Bar Program

Jim Meehan and his crew.

Matt Dillon of Seattle’s Sitka and Spruce, winner of Best Chef: Northwest

Chris Hastings of Birmingham, Alabama’s Hot and Hot Fish Club, winner of Best Chef: South. At this point, the photo ops were moved just outside the green room with a James Beard backdrop. At the time it seemed like an improvement, but the lighting was awful and in retrospect, as crowded as it was, I preferred the more candid shots from the Green Room.

High Acheson of Five and Ten in Athens, GA and Linton Hopkins of Restaurant Eugene in Atlanta, GA shared the award for Best Chef: Southeast.

Matt Molina of L.A.’s Osteria Mozza won the award for Best Chef: Pacific

The award for Best Chef: Northeast went Tim Cushman of Boston’s O Ya

The award for Best Chef: Southwest went to Paul Qui of Uchiko in Austin, TX.

While the awards were still going on, the gala started up. Michael Lomonico of Porterhouse in NYC was in fine form.

Service tables were set up inside and outside.

Vitaly Paley of Portland’s Paley’s Place served crab reubens.

Andrea Reusing of Chapel Hill, NC’s Lantern Restaurant used caviar in a few very good dishes.

Reusing’s deviled eggs

Frank Stitt of Birmingham, AL’s Highlands Bar & Grill and other restaurants served Crawfish and Gulf Shrimp Salad.

Gin and other liquids were flowing freely

Bradley Ogden’s Artisanal Grilled Cheese sandwiches along with James Beard’s “Clam Soup that Cures” as prepared by Ogden.

Puerto Rico’s Mario Pagan prepared Caribbean lobster ceviche.

Michael Lomonaco and Sirio Maccioni chat.

Norman VanAken and friends

Sean Brock and his heirloom beans

2012 JBF Humanitarian of the Year Recipient Charlie Trotter

Nick Kokans, co-owner of the JBF Best New Restaurant, Next.

Dave Beran, chef of the JBF Best New Restaurant, Next.

2012 JBF Chef of the Year, Daniel Humm and Daniel Boulud having some fun in the green room. Occasional Docsconz contributor Michael Talalaev is in the background with the camera.