Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Andrew Zimmern Are Our 2017 Awards Hosts

The James Beard Foundation is pleased to announce that actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson, known for his work on ABC's award-winning Modern Family, will host the 2017 James Beard Awards Gala, taking place on Monday, May 1, at Lyric Opera of Chicago. JBF Award winner Andrew Zimmern, of Travel Channel's Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern, will host the James Beard Media Awards (formerly known as the Book, Broadcast & Journalism Awards) on Tuesday, April 25, at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in New York City.

This year's Awards theme is "Powered by Food", which will celebrate the thrilling ways that technology has strengthened our connections through food, from the blog post that sparks a trend, to the Instagram that inspires us, and the shared images that become our portal to cuisine from far afield.

“We’re delighted to have Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Andrew Zimmern as hosts for this year's awards," said Susan Ungaro, president of the James Beard Foundation. "Just as technology is able to connect people through a shared love of food, Jesse and Andrew have combined their own personal passions for food with their unique talents, whether it be through television, in a blog post, on stage, or on the plate."

Read the full press release about this year's James Beard Award hosts.