The James Beard Foundation is a New York

New York

New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

-based national professional non-profit organization

Non-profit organization

Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...

 named in honor of James Beard

James Beard

James Andrew Beard was an American chef and food writer. The central figure in the story of the establishment of a gourmet American food identity, Beard was an eccentric personality who brought French cooking to the American middle and upper classes in the 1950s...

 that serves to promote the culinary arts by honoring chefs, wine

Wine

Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...

 professionals, journalists, and cookbook authors at annual award ceremonies and providing scholarships and educational opportunities to cooking hopefuls.

The Foundation was started in 1986 by Peter Kump, a former student of James Beard and founder of the Institute of Culinary Education

Institute of Culinary Education

The Institute of Culinary Education is an American culinary school located in New York City, New York.Accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges , ICE offers comprehensive 8- to 13-month career training diploma programs in Culinary Arts, Pastry & Baking Arts, Culinary...

. At Julia Child

Julia Child

Julia Child was an American chef, author, and television personality. She is recognized for introducing French cuisine to the American public with her debut cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and her subsequent television programs, the most notable of which was The French Chef, which...

's suggestion, Kump purchased Beard's New York brownstone at 167 West 12th Street in Greenwich Village

Greenwich Village

Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...

 and preserved it as a gathering place where the general public and press can appreciate the talents of established and emerging chefs.

The James Beard House hosts frequent dinners featuring selected chefs working the Beard kitchen in the company of Foundation members and industry professionals. Notable past chefs have included Daniel Boulud

Daniel Boulud

Daniel Boulud is a French chef and restaurateur with restaurants in New York City, Palm Beach, Miami, Montreal, Beijing, and Singapore...

, Emeril Lagasse

Emeril Lagasse

'Emeril John Lagasse is an American celebrity chef, restaurateur, television personality, and cookbook author. A regional James Beard Award winner, he is perhaps most notable for his Food Network shows Emeril Live and Essence of Emeril as well as catchphrases such as “Kick it up a notch!” and...

, Nobu Matsuhisa

Nobu Matsuhisa

Nobuyuki "Nobu" Matsuhisa is a celebrity chef and restaurateur known for his fusion cuisine blending traditional Japanese dishes with South American ingredients. His signature dish is black cod in miso.-Biography:Nobu was born in Saitama, Japan...

, Jacques Pépin

Jacques Pépin

Jacques Pépin is an internationally recognized French chef, television personality, and author working in the United States. Born in Bourg-en-Bresse, Lyon in France, Pepin was raised by a father and mother who jointly owned a restaurant, where he later credited the start of his love for food. He...

, and Charlie Trotter

Charlie Trotter

Charlie Trotter is a chef and restaurateur.-Biography:A graduate of New Trier High School, Trotter started cooking professionally in 1982 after earning a degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. For the next 5 years, he worked and studied in Chicago, San Francisco at...

.

The James Beard Foundation Award

James Beard Foundation Award

The James Beard Foundation Awards were established in 1990 and are often called "The Oscars of Food." Held on the first weekend in May, the Awards honor the finest chefs, restaurants, wine professionals, journalists, cookbook authors, restaurant designers, and other food professionals in the...

s, considered the "Oscars

Academy Awards

An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...

 of the food world," are held annually to honor exceptional chefs and journalists. The main Awards Galas are held on the first Monday in May and feature an awards ceremony and a winning chef's tasting reception afterwards. The Journalism awards are held on a separate day.

The former president of the foundation, Leonard F. Pickell, Jr., resigned in August 2004 shortly before the results of a three-month audit were to be announced. He was convicted of fraud

Fraud

In criminal law, a fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual; the related adjective is fraudulent. The specific legal definition varies by legal jurisdiction. Fraud is a crime, and also a civil law violation...

 in late September, having misused hundreds of thousands of dollars for unnecessary and undocumented expenses. As a result of the scandal and his indictment by the Attorney General

Attorney General

In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...

's Office, the members of the board of the foundation were asked to resign in January 2005.

In January 2006 the reconstituted Board, under the direction of Interim President Edna Morris, initiated a search for a permanent President of the Foundation. In April that year Susan Ungaro, formerly editor-in-chief of Family Circle

Family Circle

Family Circle is an American women's magazine published 15 times a year by Meredith Corporation. It began publication in 1932 as a magazine distributed at supermarkets such as Piggly Wiggly and Safeway. Cowles Magazines and Broadcasting bought the magazine in 1962. The New York Times Company bought...

magazine, was appointed president.

In October 2007, the Board announced that Woodrow W. Campbell, senior partner at Debevoise & Plimpton, would be taking over Chairmanship of the board.

In March 2011 Susan Ungaro, President of the James Beard Foundation was appointed as Advisory member of the International School of Culinary Arts, Spain.

In anticipation of the James Beard Awards in May 2011, the Foundation is launching JBF LTD – a pop-up restaurant and food pavilion in New York City's Chelsea Market from April 12 – May 14.

Publications

• Bimonthly JBF Events — What's going on at the James Beard House in NYC and at events around the country
• Bimonthly JBF Notes — A members-only newsletter about trends in the food world, recipes, and more
• Electronic JBF Professional Directory — An online directory of professional members chefs who have presented a meal at the Beard House or participated in fundraising events
• Electronic JBF Restaurant Directory — An online directory of chefs and restaurants who have presented a meal at the James Beard House