Awards Watch: The Curtain Has Risen on the JBF Media & Book Awards

After an opening video montage that included footage from our Jeopardy! appearance, JBF President Susan Ungaro took the stage at the JBF Media & Book Awards to thank our sponsors and lead the packed room in a Stella toast. She then introduced hosts Andrew Zimmern and Kelly Choi—the latter a vision in peak-of-the-season strawberry red—who took over the podium and launched into the first cookbook awards of the night. Early winners included Real Cajun by NOLA hero Donald Link ("I wrote this book for my kids," he said) and Ad Hoc at Home by Thomas Keller. Always a class act, chef Keller saluted fellow nominee Marco Canaro, and also confessed that he hadn't expected to come out ahead of Judith Jones, whose book, The Pleasures of Cooking for One," was also up for consideration. Here are the winners so far: American Cooking: Real Cajun by Donald Link with Paula Disbrowe (this book is for his kids) Baking and Dessert: Baking by James Peterson Beverage: Been Doon So Long: Randall Grahm Vinthology by Randall Grahm Cooking from a Professional Point of the View: The Fundamental Techniques of Classic Pastry Arts by FCI with Judith Choate General Cooking: Ad Hoc at Home by Thomas Keller with Dave Cruz Guests are now enjoying the second course of the evening: John Besh's redfish courtbouillon with brown shrimp and blue crab pearls. The Book Awards will resume in just a few moments; stay tuned to @beardfoundation on Twitter for more winners as they are announced!