James Beard and a Broken Heel

May 4, 2009 8:56 pm

On Saturday night, I not-so-gracefully fell down the stairs at an outdoor restaurant and took on the look of a war victim with my black and blue knee that was gushing blood. I'd like to say, it was raining, but it wasn't.

On Sunday night, despite the rain and my wounded knee I was in the best spirits and rushed over to the Millennium Broadway hotel for the James Beard Foundation Media Awards.

Amidst Maine Lobster with Pickled Beets and Candied Chillies, Kobe Beef Tartare with Quail Eggs and Lotus Root, and Golden Potatoes with Caramelized Escargot, I watched the crowd roll in and chatted with my friend Alba Cera. Once seated at my table with four Nominees (Monica Eng, Jon Bonné, David Leite, and Rachel Moeller Gorman) we enjoyed the awards ceremony and couldn't help but critique the food.

The Chilled Orient Point Petite Oysters with Cava Granité were overpowered by the pink peppercorns masked the the fresh "from the sea" flavor of oysters. The crunch of the wild hickory nuts in the Spring Greens with Wild Rice, Asparagus, Maple-Mustard Vinaigrette hit the spot while the rubberiness of the cold Paprika di Senise and Spring Onion-Marinated Sauteed Sea Bass missed the mark entirely.

The high points of the meal were Rachel Moeller Gorman's win and the Old School/new School Golden Gate Natural Angus Short Ribs with Creamed Spinach, Morels, and Carrot-Truffle Relish. However, that didn't stop me from eating two and a half (YES-two and a half) servings of the Meyer Lemon Pudding with Mandarin Orange Granité. After all, I was heading to the chefs after party hosted by Bon Appetite at Vermilion where I knew I'd be burning up the calories on the dance floor.

And did I dance?! Joey Campanaro proved that marrying a Spaniard can inject rhythm into your step. Franklin Becker, Ken Oringer, and John DeLucie held their own and proved they picked up a few things at their high school dances, or was that the last time they danced? Missy Robbins only wanted to bop from the sidelines. Season Five TOP CHEF contestants Ariane Duarte and Leah Cohen cleared out the area before the dancing even started. So did Craig Hopson, Herb Wilson and Jonathan Waxman.

With all of the guests bustling,and half inebriated at most times, Craig Hopson managed to keep his pristine white sweater white. No spills to report. He certainly wasn't having enough fun though. Master networker Kerry Heffernan was working the crowd downstairs with Michael White, Michael Schwartz and others.

Just when I thought Joey Campanaro was the only one in sneakers, Alexandra Guarnaschelli managed to look elegant and pretty (as always) in her very own athletic gear. I whizzed by Lon Symensma at some point on my way to attack yet another array of desserts.

At the outset of the evening, DJ Rekha, a childhood friend and completely rocking DJ, imparted her words of wisdom after I requested a song. "Divs, I can't play that yet. It's like apple picking, you can't pick an apple before it's ripe. So I just can't play that song till it's time for it." It's a good thing she knows her stuff because her oldie classics to Punjabi beats had us busting a move past one at AM.

At that point sari-clad Rohini Dey, owner of at Vermilion, commented, "You really like to dance, don't you? We need to wind up here so we can set up for lunch service!"

Like all good evenings this one had to come to an end, a rather dramatic one, as Alba walked down the stairs of the restaurant in the rain only to slip down a few of steps and break the heel of left red stiletto. At least it was a broken heel and not a bruised knee. I'm still in pain!

Divya Gugnani