Food52 Life

James Beard Awards

by:
May 13, 2011

James Beard Awards

In case you missed it, Amanda won herself a James Beard Award for The Essential New York Times Cookbook at the James Beard Foundation's Broadcast & Journalism Awards last Friday night. Best of all, Merrill -- who worked with Amanda for five years on the book -- was on hand to celebrate.

Since the very idea for food52 grew out of Amanda & Merrill's work on this big, handsome book, the win is especially poignant -- we can all be grateful that this book is what brought us all together here at food52. Now let's all gaze at the bling.

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Amanda Hesser and Merrill Stubbs Dorman at the James Beard Awards  The Essential New York Times Cookbook

Photos: Ken Goodman (above); Tad Friend on the iPhone cam (near left)


See what other Food52 readers are saying.

  • midnitechef
    midnitechef
  • Serene
    Serene
  • Amanda Hesser
    Amanda Hesser
  • Oui, Chef
    Oui, Chef
  • coloterp
    coloterp
Food52 (we cook 52 weeks a year, get it?) is a food and home brand, here to help you eat thoughtfully and live joyfully.

73 Comments

midnitechef May 18, 2011
YAY!!! What an awesome recognition for ya'll!
 
Serene May 17, 2011
So great!
 
Amanda H. May 16, 2011
Hey, wow -- really -- thanks for all of your generous and thoughtful comments. I'm sorry not to have responded sooner but Merrill and I have actually been pulling late nights this past week getting the proofs of the first food52 Cookbook back to our editor! We really appreciate your sentiments -- it was a dream project and we had years of fun working on it. It brought us here, and we're very happy about that. Thanks, everyone!
 
Oui, C. May 16, 2011
Congratulations to you both, what a fabulous night it must have been! - S
 
coloterp May 16, 2011
What a well-deserved honor - congratulations!
 
Elycooks May 16, 2011
Congrats - so well deserved!
 
galleyslave May 16, 2011
Congratulations on well-derved recognition! Your dedication, energy,generosity of spirit, and most of all FOOD! has earned you a place in the pantheon of single-named cooks. Bask.
 
ellenl May 16, 2011
I also bought the book for myself at the holidays last Dec.--and I love it.
 
Sasa May 16, 2011
Well deserved, congratulations!
 
liz@thismaglife May 16, 2011
Congrats Amanda & Merrill! When I reviewed this amazing book for ThisMagnificentLife I was dazzled by how dedicated you were in your mission.
 
Savoirfaire1 May 16, 2011
Congratulations, Amanda and Merrill! I knew that you win. Right before Easter, I visited my 80 something years young grandmother and noticed that she has a copy of the cookbook on her shelf. Gran is very selective about cookbooks and only purchases the best.
 
VivianBoroff May 15, 2011
Congratulations! Very well deserved :-)
 
DebJ May 15, 2011
Wonderful. Congratulations! I love this book. Thank you.
 
ellenl May 15, 2011
So where is Merrill's award?
 
jfinnert May 15, 2011
well deserved congratulations! The book was a great concept. My imagination is much bigger than my stomach, so it's no surprise I've read much more than I've cooked, but what I've tried has worked out extremely well. I consider it a reliable source of good ideas, with a historical slant that makes every dish more interesting.
 
monkeymom May 15, 2011
Amanda, sure hope you are savoring your time in the spotlight. I also love my copy of the book and will be very happily trying the recipes for year to come. Thanks to you and Merrill for all of your hard work!
 
Mgmnyc May 15, 2011
Congratulations on the award! and thank you for producing the gorgeous, rich and historical Essential New York Times Cookbook. The award was well deserved!
 
bigmike1 May 15, 2011
congrats indeed Amanda and Merrill!!I have learned alot from you 2 ladies.Always excellent recipes weitten with wit and complete knowledge of subject.I am buying the book!
 
BlueKaleRoad May 15, 2011
Congratulations! Love the happy photo of Amanda and Merrill. A well deserved honor!
 
DCAngela May 15, 2011
yay! love the book!!
 
annamakena May 15, 2011
Congratulations! So well deserved and such a fantastic book that I enjoy both reading and cooking with.
 
Tracey J. May 15, 2011
Congrats! You deserve it. And to think I actually massaged meatballs with you. Go girl!
 
Linguist May 15, 2011
Congratulations - it's a wonderful book. Not only did it help me clear out a whole cupboard of old pages of recipes saved from the Times (virtually every one I had saved made it into the book!), but since I got it, I've hardly used any other book, and I have a LOT of cookbooks. Incredibly useful, and fun to read too.
 
Eydie D. May 15, 2011
Congratulations Amanda. I'm the person who called in on the Martha Stewart radio show and said that I love the cookbook so much that I pick it up, hug it, kiss it and dance with it.
Remember?
Apparently, I know a good cookbook when I see one. So glad you won.
Eydie Desser
 
TurkeyGoddess May 15, 2011
What a very prestigious and coveted award! I am so proud of you girls. Congratualtions! Keep up the good work.
Mom Char.
 
RisaCooks May 15, 2011
Congratulations Amanda & Merrill. That is sooo wonderful. I am so proud of both of you. Great job. Some gorgeous bling indeed!
 
Jane E. May 15, 2011
Congratulations to you both. I bought the cookbook for my own Christmas present last year and just love it.
 
Amy S. May 15, 2011
Congratulations! Both of you for a well deserved award!
 
Diethood May 15, 2011
What an honor! Congratulations!! Well deserved!
 
Kayb May 15, 2011
Congrats! The book is a wonderful book, one of my two essential ones in the kitchen. Great work, well-deserved honor!
 
parker May 15, 2011
It's a toss-up between whether I love the indexing more, or the recipes, or the anecdotes... DEFINITELY my desert-island book, and a wedding present for every single niece hereafter. A medal from the master of delicious simplicity is well-deserved and utterly appropriate.
 
Andreadoria56 May 15, 2011
Must feel amazing! Congratilations.
 
Jun B. May 15, 2011
Congratulations!! Your book has been used so many times now and we're looking forward to many more recipes to try!
 
Sagegreen May 15, 2011
How thrilling! We are so proud of you both. What a great achievement.
 
fineartdaily May 15, 2011
Congrats to both of you for the recognition of your hard work, enthusiasm and passion! Kudos!
 
innoabrd May 15, 2011
Congrats! That is, well, just too cool!
 
betteirene May 15, 2011
Congratulations! Look how happy both of you are! Kind of makes up for having to taste the recipes that didn't make it into the book, doesn't it. . .will you hang it at home or at the office?
 
Sadassa_Ulna May 14, 2011
Congratulations, so exciting!
 
So very happy for you!! Thanks so much for posting the great pics!
 
Tsyganova May 14, 2011
Congratulations Amanda & Merrill !
 
WinnieAb May 13, 2011
So so amazing. Congrats to both of you :)
 
lapadia May 13, 2011
Bravo! Bravissimo! Congratulatissimo! Let the applause begin! You're not the only one who's proud of what you’ve accomplished – so are we!
 
Lizthechef May 13, 2011
I treasure my signed copy. Whoot, Amanda!
 
Sasha (. May 13, 2011
Love the bling! It must weigh a ton.... but .... so does your book - which I love. Perfect! :) Job well done.
 
JanaVee May 13, 2011
It's a wonderful book! Congratulations!
 
Stacey S. May 13, 2011
Amanda, Congratulations on the James Beard Award!!!!!!!!
 
TasteFood May 13, 2011
Congratulations!!!
 
Sodium G. May 13, 2011
WOOOOHOOO congrats Amanda and Merill!
 
deanna1001 May 13, 2011
Congrats! Well deserved!
 
fiveandspice May 13, 2011
The folks at the James Beard Foundation obviously have good taste indeed!
 
gingerroot May 13, 2011
Congratulations again, Amanda & Merrill! Wonderful recognition for a fantastic tome that has already made a huge impact in our lives; cheers to both of you and all of food52!
 
Midge May 13, 2011
One of my most treasured cookbooks - an amazing feat! Congrats to you both!
 
SKK May 13, 2011
Well deserved!
 
cheese1227 May 13, 2011
Fabulous news!! Congrats.
 
debbiek May 13, 2011
Woo hoo! So exciting to see you wearing your medal, Amanda. And I'm delighted that Merrill was there with you. Congratulations again.
 
Susan B. May 13, 2011
Congratulations to you both! I got the book for Christmas and I love it. I love cooking from it, but I also love reading it. Congrats also on the success of Food52. Such a great idea and what a wonderful community has grown from it. I wish you both continued success and I look forward to seeing what you do in the future!
 
Happyolks May 13, 2011
congratulatiosn!
 
Happyolks May 13, 2011
oops -- congratulations!
 
edamame2003 May 13, 2011
what a great honor--congrats to you both! a big win for the book and the entire food 52 community!
 
cookinginvictoria May 13, 2011
Congrats again to both of you -- such an accomplishment for a superb book that I like a bible in my kitchen. Love the pics. So wonderful that you have been honored with this prestigious award!
 
ALittleZaftig May 13, 2011
Warmest congratulations! Well deserved.
 
LLStone May 13, 2011
A very hearty congratulations, Amanda and Merrill! I do love the book, and Food52.
 
EmilyNunn May 13, 2011
Such an amazing book--a feat. Richly deserved!
 
mrslarkin May 13, 2011
Congrats, you guys! That is so great. My gosh, Amanda, you could probably crush peppercorns with the James Beard medallion. It's ginormous!
 
aargersi May 13, 2011
Or garlic ;-)
 
Kristen M. May 13, 2011
The James Beard Foundation just posted more photos on their Facebook page here: http://on.fb.me/kPyKU0
 
Jennifer A. May 13, 2011
What an amazing accomplishment! Congratulations!
 
franville May 13, 2011
Congratulations! That's wonderful.
 
lastnightsdinner May 13, 2011
So wonderful. Congrats again!
 
wssmom May 13, 2011
Just wonderful!!!
 
Panfusine May 13, 2011
Congratulations Amanda & Merill. You've no idea how much of an inspiration you are for a lot of us out here on the net! Waiting to see more pix of this momentous event!
 
inpatskitchen May 13, 2011
Congratulations to both of you!!
 
boulangere May 13, 2011
Beautiful. Was hoping we would see some photos of the big night here. Cannot imagine how exciting this was.