My Honor at the James Beard Foundation's Chefs & Champagne
The James Beard Foundation holds an annual summer gala in the Hamptons called Chefs & Champagne, held at Wolffer Estate Vineyard in Sagaponack. The event is a lavish tasting party featuring bubbly Champagnes, the wines of Wolffer Estate Vineyard, and culinary offerings from a select group of more than 30 fine chefs. This year, I am delighted to report, that I was honored for my work in bringing elegant and approachable cuisine to an ever-expanding audience. After being introduced to the assemblage, this is what I commented about.
As Julia Child famously noted, “In the beginning, there was Beard.” All of us in the food world owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to him. James Beard’s passion for delicious food, prepared with fresh, wholesome ingredients was vitally important in establishing a serious culinary tradition in this country. He helped make cooking an American art - and a favorite cultural pastime. He also understood its capacity to enrich our tables and to enhance the time spent around them with our family and friends. The James Beard Foundation does a fabulous job of celebrating and nurturing this important legacy. I am deeply honored to be recognized by this group and all that it represents.
1 The late Christian Wollfer's daughter, Andrea Wolffer, is continuing her father's tradition of hosting this lovely event. Here I am with her and Susan Ungaro, who runs the James Beard Foundation.
2 One of the soaring white tents set up on the Wolffer Estate Vineyard
3 Beneath the tent, the chefs set up individual stations.
4 The famous Marcus Samuelsson served fish tacos.
5 Marcus and I always have lots to chat about.
6 My dear friend, Chef Pierre Schaedlin and Susan toast with Pierre's fresh gazpacho.
7 Jim Adamson, once the CEO of Kmart, loves this event and attended with several of his friends.
8 Gerri Kyhill and her fiancee, my chairman, Charles Koppelman, had a lovely time at the event.
9 Susan and I tested the Mercedes cut-out.
10 Many great chefs prepared delicious tastings. Wolfgang Ban and Eduard Frauneder of Seasonal Restaurant and Weinbar served Cabbage Hill Farm Pork Belly with Corn and Elderflower Licorice.
11 Dale Carty of Tasty’s Restaurant in Anguilla, British West Indies came with his crew. He served Island-Marinated Conch Salad with Japanese Seaweed and Crispy Coconut Flakes.
12 Here I am with Paul Marshall who served Smoked Salmon Cheesecake with Lemon and Red Onion Crème Fraîche.
13 Todd English and I joked about the horrible heat and the giant crowd, all of whom were very polite waiting in lines for the food.
14 Todd was serving Pastrami Spice–Rubbed Kobe Steak with Lobster–Corn Butter, Polenta Fries, and Cherry Pepper Aïoli. I even got to slice some of the Japanese-style Kobe beef - so tender!
15 Todd wanted to put me to work!
16 Posing with Susan Ungaro and Chef Percy Whatley and others from The Ahwahnee in Yosemite National Park, California - They served Smoked Sacramento Sturgeon with California Avocado Mousse, Lardo, Heirloom Tomato Relish, and Olive Oil–Fried Sourdough Bread Crumbs
17 Julian Medina of Yerba Buena Perry in NYC served Taquitos de Cangrejo - Crab Taquitos with Habanero, Mango, and Thai Basil.
18 Eric Ripert of Le Bernadin did not cook, but came to the event with his beautiful wife and charming young son. He is such a supporter of cuisine in America and good food everywhere.
19 Ella Bea Nussbam - Darcy Miller's second daughter - came with her parents and grandparents. She is always so charming!
20 Darcy, her mother Madge, and me
21 Right before I made my remarks to the assemblage, I was sipping an iced latte - it was so, so hot!
22 Andrea Wolffer giving her speech - she was great at crowd control.
23 This year's recipient of a $2,000 Christian Wolffer scholarship is Christina Murillo, who plans to use her award to attend the Food, Wine & arts of the Table Program at the Haut Etudes du Gout School in France.
24 Susan, Andrea, and Christina
25 On stage with Susan - her intro was very flattering. I wore Etro tights, a black Hermes silk shirt and Laboutin espadrilles.
26 I spoke about the late James Beard and his profound effect on the development of good food in America.
27 I was fortunate to have met James several times and I still love and use his books, especially 'Beard on Bread.'
28 Being interviewed by Lettie Teague - wine columnist for The Wall Street Journal - the fellow is Roger Drill
29 Being interviewed about Food Television - Allen Salkin, of AOL/Food had never seen my very early food specials (produced more than 20-years ago) for PBS - Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Entertaining.
30 I was asked to sign this wine barrel that will be used for 2010 vintage wine - maybe it will be the best ever!
31 Rita Jammet of La Caravelle Champagne - she is a great friend and lovely foodie.
32 Charlie Green, my makeup artist attended. She is such a great person!
33 Another shot with Ella
34 And another photo of Darcy, Madge, and me
35 Charles Koppelman
36 Gary Nardilla in center - he directs all off my field pieces - his beautiful college student daughter, Caroline and me
37 Susan Ungaro and me with the wonderful chefs who contributed their time and efforts and talent for the evening.
38 Obviously we were all in a very good mood!
39 Fredrik Berselius of Seasonal, me, and Dale Carty of Tasty's
40 Fredrik Berselius is chef de cuisine at the wonderful Seasonal on W58th St. in Manhattan.
41 Susan Magrino, my friend and public relations guru, and her dog, Churchill
42 We love churchill!
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
You are lookin' good in these pictures Martha. No wonder everyone wanted to pose with you. I like the pic of you posing in the cut out of the Mercedes! Very amusing!
I have been to Seasonal in Manhattan and agree that it's great. Cool to see you with the chef. Must 'go' back when next in NYC!
Posted by: Christian / @vfbr2001 | July 30th, 2010 at 1:58 am
Lots of people, lots of food, and looks like...lots of fun!!!
Gloria!!
Posted by: Gloria | July 30th, 2010 at 2:36 am
Congratulations Martha! Your outfit looked wonderful, and I read an article the other day that said that you looked as poised as ever despite the heat.
Have a great weekend.
Posted by: Pru | July 30th, 2010 at 3:24 am
Martha, thanks for sharing this blog.
Posted by: KLBrown | July 30th, 2010 at 7:35 am
Hi Martha,
An honor well deserved - congrats! I don't know how everyone survived in the heat. You looked great and as cool as a cucumber. I would have been wilted. Thanks for all the great pictures. Trish
Posted by: Trish | July 30th, 2010 at 9:37 am
Martha, your honor is all of ours as we are ever a part of the world learning about art of LIVING, both past and present. Thanks
Posted by: ann | July 30th, 2010 at 9:46 am
Martha, congratulations it appears to be a well respected honor and it is good they recognized your work. How you did not have rivulets of sweat running down you after seeing Kevin, poor thing.
Posted by: Margie | July 30th, 2010 at 10:48 am
I would have known Darcy Miller's child just by her eyes. A long time ago you printed a picture of Darcy in one of your books or magazines and I was immediately struck by her incredible eyes.
Posted by: Gin | July 30th, 2010 at 11:37 am
Love the outfit! Tell me, do you have a workout before and after a great food event like this? Only teasing. There would be no way one could turn down any of the fine cuisine offered that day. Congratulations.
Posted by: Sharon | July 30th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
Love love LOVE the outfit!
Black at a summertime garden party? Don't worry Martha, I spill food on myself too
Posted by: R. | July 30th, 2010 at 1:24 pm
Hi Martha, What a fantastic event this was and thank you for sharing it with us! Congratulations for this honor that you absolutely deserved!! James Beard has always been one of my favorite authors and his 'Beard on Bread' was one of my favorite books. I loved his recipes! I love all of these fabulous photos of you and many of your favorite chefs. You looked so great in every photo! Congratulations to Charles and his fiancee Gerri! They both look so happy! My favorite photos were of you, Susan Magrino and handsome Churchill!!! Hope you are having fun up there at Skylands and that you have a fabulous birthday dinner. Loved Kevin's latest twitpix! Love, Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | July 30th, 2010 at 1:48 pm
A superb foodie event...love events of this sort! Such a fun group, too.
Posted by: sherey | July 30th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
Just one more honor bestowed upon an exceptionally talented lady.....aren't we all LUCKY to be able to share in your wealth of knowledge. Thanks for sharing your special day with us.
Posted by: Teresa Emrich | July 30th, 2010 at 10:38 pm
Congrats Martha! Love your outfit by the way. Thank you for sharing the photos of such a lovely event.
Posted by: Lisa { AuthenticSuburbanGourmet } | July 31st, 2010 at 3:15 pm
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!MARTHA....A WELL DESERVED, WELL EARNED HONOR! YOU HAVE SO ENRICHED OUR ALL OF OUR LIVES WITH YOUR ART
OF LIVING!!!
AND MARTHA, YOU LOOK SPECTACULAR. TRULY BEAUTIFUL...YOU ARE LOOKIN' YOUNGER EVERY DAY!
That's the art of living! I NOTICED TODAY
THAT YOUR BIRTHDAY IS AUGUST 3. you are looking
decades younger and younger! The pics are great! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! so elegant.
I truly enjoy Darcy's segments and visiting her
web site...she's brilliant. and her daugher is
so gorgeous...those eyes! Kevin looked so happy. I've been following his apt.renovation and learning so much. You and your staff truly
enrich our lives each and every day! thank you.
Posted by: dana | July 31st, 2010 at 7:16 pm
So much fun! What a hot July in the Northeast! So chic - you and your friends. It just reminds all of us about fostering all the talent in the country over the long run in all sectors. The history lesson is interesting -- connecting Julia to the current state of affairs of American cuisine. Plus it really is true when I stop to think about those PBS specials which I love -- really aired 20 years ago. I appreciate that your blog makes these historical linkages while showing us a fun evening. We need to be inspired "MADE IN AMERICA".
Posted by: Teresa Touey | August 1st, 2010 at 11:23 am
I have to agree with the comments here: i do not know how you and the other lovely ladies appear so elegant in humid and hot weather. I am always so uncomfortable. Churchill stole the show!
Posted by: https://twitter.com/Geotravel | August 1st, 2010 at 9:20 pm
Gerri Kyhill is so sweet and Charles looks so happy. It is so nice to find love a second time around. Charles' children must be so happy for him!
Posted by: Jeff | August 2nd, 2010 at 12:07 pm