Awards Watch: The 2015 Who's Who of Food & Beverage in America

The James Beard Foundation is proud to announce the five 2015 inductees to the Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America. This prestigious award is given to renowned culinary professionals who have made a significant and unique contribution to the American food and beverage industry. We'll be honoring the new inductees at the James Beard Awards ceremony at Lyric Opera of Chicago on Monday, May 4.

The 2015 Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America inductees are:

Allan Benton, Pork Producer and Purveyor

The owner of Benton’s Smoky Mountain Country Hams, Allan Benton has been described by Saveur magazine as "one of the most respected producers in the United States." Benton’s hams and bacon have become the standard against which all others are measured and are sought after by top chefs like Sean Brock, David Chang, and Hugh Acheson.

Dale DeGroff, Mixologist

Master Mixologist Dale DeGroff, a.k.a. King Cocktail, developed his extraordinary talent tending bar at esteemed establishments, most notably New York's famous Rainbow Room, where in the 1980s he pioneered a gourmet approach to recreating classic cocktails. DeGroff has since been credited with reinventing the bartending profession and setting off a cocktail revival that continues to flourish. 

Wylie Dufresne, Chef and Restaurateur

Wylie Dufresne is a celebrated chef and restaurateur and a pioneer of molecular gastronomy. He opened wd~50 in 2003, where his creative, eclectic, hyper-modern cooking earned national acclaim and a three-star review in the New York Times from Frank Bruni in 2008. 

Nathalie Dupree, Cookbook Author and Television Personality

Nathalie Dupree is the author of fourteen cookbooks and the host of more than 300 national and international cooking shows that have aired on PBS, the Food Network, and the Learning Channel. She has earned wide recognition for her work, including three James Beard Awards and numerous other honors. Dupree is best known for her approachability and her deep understanding of Southern food.   

Maricel Presilla, Chef, Restaurateur, and Cookbook Author

Maricel E. Presilla is an award-winning author, chef, and restaurateur who is widely recognized as one of the nation’s pre-eminent experts on the cuisines of Latin America. A Cuban native and Miami émigré, Presilla is currently the chef and co-owner of restaurants Zafra and Cucharamama, as well as Latin gourmet market, bakery, and chocolate shop Ultramarinos, all of which are in Hoboken, New Jersey. 

Read the full press release.