In 2015, the resort welcomed the James Beard Foundation’s Celebrity Chef Tour, a dinner series reflective of the James Beard House in New York City, complete with cocktail reception, multi-course dinner featuring JBF Award winners and nominees, and a Q&A session with the attending chefs.
That event was easily the highlight of the 2015 culinary calendar.
The Celebrity Chef Tour came back in 2016, 2017 and 2018. This year, the $250 ticketed event on Dec. 6 at Ravello will be a Friends of James Beard Benefit Dinner, with proceeds going to support JBF programs and scholarships.
Click here to view the menu and purchase tickets.
BTW: You have until Dec. 2 to nominate your favorite chef or restaurant for a 2020 JBF Award after which a committee comprised of restaurant critics, food and wine editors, authors and culinary educators will review the entrants to determine eligibility and regional representation before whittling the list down to a nominating ballot of semifinalists.
Last year, all Orlando-area semifinalists were nominated in national categories — Rabii Saber (Outstanding Pastry Chef), Norman’s (Outstanding Restaurant), James & Julie Petrakis (Outstanding Restaurateurs), Victoria & Albert’s (Outstanding Service) — a feat never before achieved.
None of the semifinalists made it to the final ballot but maybe, just maybe, 2020 is the year that all changes.
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This article appears in Holiday Events Guide 2019.
