And The Winner Is...James Beard Awards 2014 Recap

The most important takeaway from last night's James Beard Awards — the glitzy and highly-anticipated culinary event of the year — is that Mario Batali can pull off Batman crocs. Last night's big winners at the annual James Beard Awards Gala at the Koch Theater in Lincoln Center, hosted by Ted Allen and Mario Batali, included Nancy Silverton of Pizzeria Mozza in Los Angeles for Outstanding Chef, The Slanted Door in San Francisco for Outstanding Restaurant, cronut king Dominique Ansel for Outstanding Pastry Chef, Barbara Lynch of Barbara Lynch Gruppo for Outstanding Restaurateur, and a tie for Rising Star Chefs between Jimmy Bannos Jr. of The Purple Pig in Chicago and Blaine Wetzel of The Willows Inn on Lummi Island in Washington.

See The Daily Meal's Snapshots from the "Yellow Carpet" here (Slideshow)

Best Chef Northeast went to chef Jamie Bissonnette, who told The Daily Meal that he was humbled by the experience.

"When I was a kid I wanted to work for a chef that had won a James Beard award and now I am that chef that has one," said Bissonnette. "It's humbling to think that all the people who voted thought I was good enough."

One of the most prestigious awards at the "Sounds of the City"-themed event that combined the love for and arts of food and music, is the Lifetime Achievement Award which this year went to Sirio Maccioni, the mastermind behind Le Cirque, and the inspiration for many star chefs. The award was presented by former mayor Michael Bloomberg.

 The 2014 Humanitarian Award went to chef Matt Haley, known for his efforts in furthering education for children across the globe.

There was an overwhelming feeling of girl power at the awards last night, since many of the major awards went to women, including Silverton's Outstanding Chef, Lynch's Outstanding Restaurateur, and Best Chef New York City, which went to The Spotted Pig's April Bloomfield.

Some of the notable women in the culinary world sharing an after-party truffle pizza:

Also Robert DeNiro was there, and everyone went wild.

WhoSay - content from Men Who Dine

See the next page for the full list of winners:

NATIONAL AWARDS

Nancy Silverton of Pizzeria Mozza in Los Angeles

— Outstanding Restaurant

The Slanted Door in San Francisco

— Rising star Chef of the Year

Jimmy Bannos Jr. of The Purple Pig in Chicago

and Blaine Wetzel of The Willows Inn on Lummi Island in Lummi Island, Washington

— Outstanding Restaurateur

Barbara Lynch of Barbara Lynch Gruppo (No. 9 Park, Menton, B&G Oysters, and others) in Boston

— Best New Restaurant

Peche Seafood Grill in New Orleans

— Outstanding Pastry Chef

Dominique Ansel of Dominique Ansel Bakery in New York City

— Outstanding Service

The Restaurant at Meadowood in St. Helena, California

— Outstanding Wine, Beer or Spirits Professional

Garrett Oliver of Brooklyn Brewery in Brooklyn, New York

— Outstanding Wine Program

The Barn at Blackberry Farm in Walland, Tennessee

— Outstanding Bar Program

The Bar at the NoMad Hotel in New York City

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REGIONAL CHEF AWARDS

— Great Lakes

Dave Beran of Next in Chicago

— Mid-Atlantic

Vikram Sunderam of Rasika in Washington, D.C.

— Midwest

Justin Aprahamian of Sanford in Milwaukee

— New York City

April Bloomfield of The Spotted Pig

— Northeast

Jamie Bissonnette of Coppa in Boston

— Northwest

Naomi Pomeroy of Beast in Portland, Oregon

— South

Ryan Prewitt of Peche Seafood Grill in New Orleans

and

Sue Zemanick of Gautreau's in New Orleans

— Southeast

Ashley Christensen of Poole's Downtown Diner in Raleigh, North Carolina

— Southwest

Chris Shepherd of Underbelly in Houston

— West

Daniel Patterson of Coi in San Francisco

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James Beard Foundation America's Classics

— Hansen's Sno-Bliz in New Orleans

Owner: Ashley Hansen

— Nick's Italian Cafe in McMinnville, Oregon

Owners: Nick Peirano, Carmen Peirano and Eric Ferguson

— Olneyville New York System in Providence, Rhode Island

Owners: Stephanie Stevens Turini and Greg Stevens

— Perini Ranch Steakhouse in Buffalo Gap, Texas

Owners: Lisa and Tom Perini

— Sokolowski's University Inn in Cleveland

Owners: Bernard Sokolowski, Mary Balbier and Michael Sokolowski

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James Beard Foundation Who's Who of Food & Beverage in America Inductees

— Edward Behr, food writer, St. Johnsbury, Vermont

— John Besh, chef and restaurateur, New Orleans

— David Chang, chef and restaurateur, New York City

— Barry Estabrook, writer, Vergennes, Vermont

— Paul Kahan, chef and restaurateur, Chicago

— Sherry Yard, pastry chef and author, Los Angeles

___

— James Beard Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award

Sirio Maccioni of Le Cirque in New York City

— James Beard Foundation Humanitarian of the Year

Matt Haley, philanthropist and restaurateur, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

Joanna Fantozzi is an Associate Editor with The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @JoannaFantozzi