2010 James Beard “America’s Classics” Award Winners

Last February, the James Beard Foundation announced the highly-anticipated winners of the America's Classics Award. Each year, five restaurants that embody "the great variety and authentic flavors of America’s food scene” are presented with this award.

This year's winners are:

• Al's French Frys -- Located in South Burlington, VT, and originating as a fast-food counter, Al's has grown in size and popularity over the past 60 years. It's named after the original owner, Al Rusterholz, whose crispy french fries always brought back numerous spud connoisseurs. Current owner Bill Bissonette says he has remained true to the original recipe, making each batch from scratch.
• The Bright Star -- A family-owned and operated Greek restaurant for over 100 years, Alabama's The Bright Star restaurant in Bessemer (where most of the local restaurants also serve Greek cuisine) truly does shine among its competition. The difference is because of the menu's African-American twist. Owners Jimmy and Nick Koikos include dishes such as fried red snapper throat and cornmeal-crusted okra with field peas and snaps.
• Calumet Fisheries -- This self-described "seafood shack" in Chicago's South Side has been frying up fresh fish for its customers since 1948. But in recent years, the Kotlick and Toll family owners have increased the menu's variety to include oak-smoked salmon and shrimp, widespread favorites which are cured in Calumet Fisheries' own smokehouse.
• Gustavus Inn -- Dave and JoAnn Lesh's Alaskan homestead has been in business since 1965 and epitomizes the concept of sustainable agriculture. The Inn's plentiful gardens provide the very produce and herbs served to its many guests, and the restaurant features other local ingredients such as kelp salsa and pickles, wild berry jams, and morel mushrooms. Its signature dish, Halibut Caddy Ganty (an Alaskan seafood medley cooked with onions, mayonnaise, and sour cream), has remained consistent for 45 years.
• Mary & Tito’s Cafe -- Just north of downtown Albuquerque sits an adobe cafe known for some of the best New Mexican cuisine in the state. Original owners Tito and Mary Gonzales opened the restaurant in 1963, and their daughter Antoinette maintains it today. Its most well-known dish is carne adovada, tender long-braised pork in red chile sauce, often used as a filler for burritos, enchiladas, and empanadas.

The 2010 James Beard Foundation Awards America’s Classics award winners will be receiving their recognition during a special ceremony on May 3 at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall in New York City.

Sources: JamesBeard.org
Capital City Weekly