by Evelyn J. Mocbeichel
Padma Lakshmi to be Honored
The James Beard Foundation, the country’s preeminent culinary organization, announced that Padma Lakshmi, the host and executive producer of Bravo’s Top Chef will be the guest of honor at this year’s Chefs & Champagne event. The event is held each year at the Wolffer Estate Vineyard in Sagaponack, N.Y. The fundraiser and tasting party will be held on Saturday, July 28, 2018. This is one of the East End of Long Island’s most highly anticipated culinary events of the summer. Food and drink offerings from more than 35 chefs, beverage masters, and artisanal purveyors will be featured along with flowing Champagne Boizel and Wölffer Estate wines. “I am excited to be joining the ranks of previous guests of honor such as Julia Child and Martha Stewart to support the foundation’s mission to make America’s food culture more delicious, diverse, and sustainable for everyone,” said Padma. “Bringing attention to JBF scholarship, women’s leadership, and other impact programs aligns with many of the causes that are close to my heart.”
Lakshmi is an internationally known food expert, model, actress, and best-selling author, as well as the recipient of the 2016 NECO Ellis Island Medal of Honor and Variety’s 2018 Karma award. Top Chef, the Emmy award winning show she hosts and executive produces, is currently filming its 16th season. Lakshmi established herself as a food expert early in her career, having hosted two successful cooking shows and writing the best-selling cookbook, Easy Exotic. Lakshmi followed this success with the publication of her second cookbook, Tangy, Tart, Hot & Sweet. In 2016, she released her food memoir, The New York Times best-seller Love, Loss and What We Ate, followed by The Encyclopedia of Spices & Herbs. In addition to her work as a writer, Lakshmi is a savvy businesswoman, having had multiple companies of her own, including the home décor line, The Padma Collection; and Padma’s Easy Exotic, a collection of frozen rice, lentils, and other culinary products. Last year, Lakshmi became an ambassador for the ACLU, focusing on women’s reproductive health and immigration issues. She is also co-founder of the Endometriosis Foundation of America. “Padma’s passion for food, family, and feminism as well as her business savvy makes her an ideal guest of honor at this year’s Chefs & Champagne,” said Clare Reichenbach, CEO of the James Beard Foundation. “She is such an inspiring role model for future generations of chefs, writers, and entrepreneurs. We look forward to celebrating her accomplishments this summer in the Hamptons.”
Over the last 27 years past guests of honor have included Ted Allen, Daniel Boulud, Julia Child, Bobby Flay, Carla Hall, Thomas Keller, Emeril Lagasse, Wolfgang Puck, and Martha Stewart. Funds raised at Chefs & Champagne help support the James Beard Foundation’s wide variety of programming, including student scholarships and the organization’s Impact Programs and women’s leadership initiatives. A silent auction consisting of fine dining experiences, wines and spirits, cookware, and culinary travel packages will also raise funds for the organization.
With a long tradition of supporting culinary education, the James Beard Foundation will also announce the recipient of the 2018 Christian Wölffer Scholarship at the event. Established in 2006, the scholarship fund supports students in their study of food and wine. As of July 2018, nearly $8 million will have been awarded to over 2,000 recipients. Reservations can be made by calling (212) 627-2308 or at:
jamesbeard.org/chefsandchampagne
