James Beard is
recognized as the father of American gastronomy. Throughout
his life, he pursued, advocated the highest standards,
and served as a mentor to emerging talents in the field
of the culinary arts.
After Beard's death in 1985, Julia Child had
the idea to preserve his home in New York City as the
gathering place it was throughout his life. The late
Peter Kump, a former student of Beard's and the founder
of Peter Kump's New York Cooking School, spearheaded
the effort to purchase the house and create the Foundation.
Beard's renovated brownstone in the heart of Greenwich
Village is North America's only historical culinary
center, a place where Foundation members, the press,
and the general public can savor the creations of
both established and emerging chefs from across the
country and around the globe.
The James Beard Foundation/KitchenAid Book Awards
are the oldest recognition program for books on culinary
topics in the United States. The Book Awards Committee
was established by R.T. French in 1966. After R.T.
French discontinued its funding for the program, the
Committee was sponsored by a number of different organizations
including: Duncan Hines, Joseph E. Seagram & Sons
and the International Association of Culinary Professionals
before becoming a permanent part of The James Beard
Foundation Awards in 1990.
For nearly twelve years, The James Beard Foundation
has been in the forefront of America's culinary revolution.
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James
Beard Foundation Cookbook Awards