Times Story Wins James Beard Award

A Los Angeles Times Food section story on Asian pears in Southern California, written by David Karp, won a James Beard Foundation journalism award Friday night, and two stories by Times Food staffers were finalists.

The win was the Times’ 10th in the awards’ six-year history, more by far than any other newspaper.

This year’s other finalists from The Times were Barbara Hansen in writing on diet, nutrition and health for her story on Chinese medicinal cooking and Charles Perry in writing on spirits, wine and beer for his stories on Kentucky Bourbon.

Los Angeles’ Philippe the Original restaurant was named an American classic for its French-dipped sandwiches.

In other Beard awards, “Smokehouse Ham, Spoonbread & Scuppernong Wine” by James Dabney won cookbook of the year and Chicago’s Charlie Trotter was named chef of the year, one of only two major restaurant awards that didn’t go to Manhattan businesses.

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COOKBOOK AWARDS

Cookbook of the Year: “Smokehouse Ham, Spoonbread & Scuppernong Wine,” Joseph Dabney (Cumberland House Publishing, $27.95). Cookbook Hall of Fame: Jean Anderson. Americana: “Saveur Cooks Authentic American,” Colman Andrews and Dorothy Kalins (Chronicle Books, $40). Baking and Desserts: “Crust and Crumb,” Peter Reinhart (Ten Speed Press, $27.95). Chefs and Restaurants: “Jean-Georges,” Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Mark Bittman (Broadway Books, $35). Entertaining and Special Occasions: “Nathalie Dupree’s Comfortable Entertaining,” Nathalie Dupree (Penguin Putnam, $29.95). General: “How To Cook Everything,” Mark Bittman (Macmillan, $25). Healthy Focus: “Steven Raichlen’s Healthy Latin Cooking,” Steven Raichlen (Rodale Press, $26.95). International: “Mediterranean Grains and Greens,” Paula Wolfert (HarperCollins, $27.50). Reference and Writing on Food: “Man Eating Bugs,” Peter Menzel and Faith D’Aluisio (Ten Speed Press, $19.95). Single Subject: “Wild About Game,” Janie Hibler (Broadway Books, $30). Vegetables and Vegetarian: “Vegetables,” James Peterson (William Morrow, $35). Wine and Spirits: “1855: A History of the Bordeaux Classification,” Dewey Markham (John Wiley & Sons, $69.95). Best Food Photography: “Charlie Trotter’s Desserts,” Tim Turner and Paul Eldridge (Ten Speed Press, $50).

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RESTAURANT AWARDS

Outstanding Restaurant: The Four Seasons, New York. Outstanding Chef: Charlie Trotter, Chicago. Best New Restaurant: Babbo, New York. Outstanding Pastry Chef: Marcel Desaulniers, The Trellis, Williamsburg, VA. Rising Star Chef: Marcus Samuelsson, Aquavit, New York. Outstanding Service: Le Bernardin, New York. Wine and Spirits Professional: Frank Prial, New York Times. Wine Service: Union Square Cafe, New York. California Chef: Paul Bertolli, Oliveto, Oakland.