Beard Award finalists include Blackbird chef, former Sun-Times food editor
Staff Report March 19, 2012 2:33PM
Janet Rausa Fuller (not pictured), former Chicago Sun-Times Food editor, was nominated for a Beard Award for her series in which she wrote about the cooking lessons Mary Jane Tala recieved from chef John Bubala. | John J. Kim~Sun-Times
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Updated: April 21, 2012 8:07AM
Chicago has a prominent presence in the finalists, announced Monday, for the James Beard Awards — the Oscars of the food world — led by Paul Kahan of Blackbird, who’s nominated for “outstanding chef.” In the competition’s journalism awards, Janet Rausa Fuller, former Food editor of the Chicago Sun-Times, was named a finalist in the “Health & Well-Being” category for her series “Starting from Scratch.” She followed Chicagoan Mary Jane Tala — chosen by Sun-Times readers — as she worked with Chef John Bubala, restaurant veteran and culinary school instructor, to learn to cook, part of an effort to improve her health and lifestyle. Other Chicago finalists:
◆ Best Chef, Great Lakes category: Michael Carlson of Schwa; Stephanie Izard of The Girl & the Goat; Bruce Sherman of North Pond, and Andrew Zimmerman of Sepia.
◆ Rising Star Chef: Dave Beran of Next.
◆ Outstanding Pastry Chef: Mindy Segal of Mindy’s Hot Chocolate.
◆ Outstanding Service: Spiaggia and Topolobampo.
◆ Outstanding Bar Program: The Aviary and Violet House. In the Beard’s journalism awards, Steve Dolinksy of WLS-Channel 7 is a finalist for “The Hungry Hound” segments; Jerome McDonnell of WBEZ for best radio show/audio Webcast; and Kevin Pang of the Chicago Tribune for food-related columns. Charlie Trotter will receive the Beard Foundation’s humanitarian of the year award. The awards will be presented May 4 and 7.
