James Beard Foundation founded in 1986 with the mission to celebrate, nurture, and honor chefs and other leaders making America’s food culture more delicious, diverse, and sustainable for everyone. Jimmy was a friend of James Beard cooking at his school before it became the honored Foundation. Jimmy has been a guest chef at the JBF house, honored by JBF Awards 3 times, cooked for the award galas and supported the organization with Celebrity Chef Dinners over the years.
James Beard Awards – Jimmy Schmidt
- James Beard Foundation “Best Chef Midwest” 1993
- James Beard Foundation “Great American Chef” 1987
- James Beard Foundation “Who’s Who of Cooking in America”
Featured Chef at the JBF Awards Gala
- JBF Awards Gala Reception Featured Chef 1988
- JBF Awards Gala Reception Featured Chef 2003
- JBF Awards Gala Reception Featured Chef 2012
JBF House & Celebrity Chef Dinners
-
- JBF House Guest Chef 1987 & 1988
- JBF “Dinner of the Decade” San Francisco 1995
- Alfred Portale
- Bradley Ogden
- Jimmy Schmidt
- Wolfgang Puck
- Roy Yamaguchi
- JBF Celebrity Chef Dinner Series 2003-2010 * California & Michigan
- JBF Celebrity Chef Dinner 2018 * Detroit
JBF Celebrity Chef Dinner Star Chef Festivals at Morgans La Quinta CA 2010-2015
- 2015 Celebrity Chefs
* Mary Sue Milliken, Larry Forgione, Richard Blaise, Suzanna Tracht, Jimmy Schmidt,
Brian Recor & Tamara Beccera
Marco Pinchot – Taylor Shellfish Farms, Washington
Pete Eshelman – Joseph Decuis Wagyu Farm, Indiana
Steve Kerns – Mangalista Estates Heritage Pork, Kansas
Bruce and Barbara Neyers – Nyers Vineyards
- 2014 Celebrity Chefs
* Larry Forgione, Eduardo Ruiz, Jimmy Schmidt, Brian Recor
Marco Pinchot – Taylor Shellfish Farms, Washington
Pete Eshelman – Joseph Decuis Wagyu Farm, Indiana
Steve Kerns – Mangalista Estates Heritage Pork, Kansas
Bruce and Barbara Neyers – Nyers Vineyards
- 2013 Celebrity Chefs
* Mary Sue Milliken, Larry Forgione, Jimmy Schmidt, Brian Recor
Bruce and Barbara Neyers – Neyers Vineyards
- 2012 Celebrity Chefs –
* Nancy Silverton, Matt Molina, Stephan Pyles. Jimmy Schmidt, Brian Recor, Michael Vaughn
Scott & Judy Pruett – Pruett Vineyards
- 2011 Celebrity Chefs
* Stephan Pyles, Jimmy Schmidt, Brian Recor, Michael Vaughn
Mike Grgich – Grgich Vineyards
- 2010 Celebrity Chefs
* Larry Forgione, Jimmy Schmidt, Brian Recor
Heidi Barrett – La Sirena Winery
- 2008 Celebrity Chefs
* Suzanne Goin, Bernard Guilles, Jimmy Schmidt, Brian Recor
Jeff Black – Chateau Souverain
JBF & Clinton Foundations Health Matters Conference
– American Chefs 800 Calorie Challenge
JBF Celebrity Chef Tour
Personal Memories of James Beard.
I first met James Beard on his visit to the London Chop House in Detroit where I was cooking. Lester Gruber, the founder of the London Chop House, was close friends with “Jim” Beard through their common love of gastronomy and travel. Lester frequently visited New York City to spend time eating and drinking with Beard, bringing me along for the educational ride. Through these almost monthly trips to NYC, Beard would occasionally have me assist (wash dishes) for some of his “James Beard Cooking Class Series” held on the lower floor of his Greenwich Village brownstone which later which became the James Beard Foundation House. James Beard was a constant, sharing, open encyclopedia of food history; with every breath an amazing fountain of rich culinary information. When it came time to eat on these forays with Lester Gruber and James Beard, he introduced me to some of New York’s restaurant luminaries of the time, such as Joseph Baum and Michael Whiteman (Windows on the World-Rainbow Room), Paul Kovi, Tom Margittai and later years with Alex von Bidder and Julian Niccolini (Four Seasons), Leon Lianides (Coach House), Andre Soltner (Lutece), David Keh (David K’s), Sirio Maccioni (Le Cirque) and Jerry Berns (21 Club) to name a few. With James Beard, they were all so gracious to share with me their unique insight into their amazing restaurants, these gifts that permanently influenced my profession and love of food & wine.
Cuisine Magazine James Beard Culinary Outpost 1983
James Beard’s Review of the London Chop House
James Beard Review LCH