Book your table now: we've got a JBF semifinalist, a protegée of Todd English, and three of Hawaii's best chefs cooking for us for next week. Monday, September 12, 7:00 P.M. Mondays with Jesse Since opening Recette last year, wunderkind chef Jesse Schenker has won raves from critics like Sam Sifton and received a 2011 JBF semifinalist nod for Best New Restaurant. For this dinner, Schenker and pastry chef Christina Lee (a Per Se alum) have created a menu inspired by their wildly popular “Mondays with Jesse” tasting series. Tuesday, September 13, 7:00 P.M. Progressive American The hottest table in Palm Beach these days is at Būccan, a small-plates restaurant known for a charming, casual setting that belies its sophisticated and imaginative global fare. A Todd English protégé, chef/owner Clay Conley was most recently the executive chef at Azul at Mandarin Oriental Miami before opening this now critically-acclaimed destination. Wednesday, September 14, 7:00 P.M. Taste of Hawaii Escape to paradise at this extravagant dinner prepared by three of Hawaii’s most accomplished chefs. Representing two of Waikiki’s iconic hotels, Darren Demaya, Colin Hazama, and Jon Matsubara have designed a complex, refined menu that will highlight Hawaii’s ever-evolving cuisine and showcase the state’s signature hospitality. Wednesday, September 14, 7:00 P.M. Los Angeles: Friends of James Beard Benefit Boasting stunning panoramic views of Los Angeles, West Restaurant & Lounge offers a spectacular setting in which to enjoy its renowned Italian steakhouse fare. For this special Friends of James Beard Benefit, West will host talented chefs from other trendy properties in the Joie de Vivre Hotels group. Thursday, September 15, 7:00 P.M. Cuisine of Richard Sandoval Since the late 1990s, Richard Sandoval’s elegant and innovative Mexican and Latin American cuisine has made an indelible mark on the American culinary landscape, changing the way we think about and approach ethnic foods. Join us as we celebrate this gastronomic pioneer at a meal featuring chefs from Sandoval’s prodigious empire. Friday, September 16, 12:00 P.M. Italian Luncheon At charming West Village newcomer Spasso (Italian for “amusement”), executive chef Craig Wallen has created a crowd-pleasing menu of traditional and contemporary regional dishes. A Michael White protégé, Wallen knows his way around an Italian kitchen and delivers the seasonal, osteria-inspired fare to prove it. For details and reservations, visit www.jamesbeard.org/events or call 212.627.2308.
