James Beard

The James Beard Foundation announced the winners of the 2013 James Beard Foundation Awards on Monday night at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center , capping a weekend of gastronomic events in New York City . Spike Gjerde of Baltimore's Woodberry Kitchen attended the awards ceremony and was among the five finalists for Best Chef Mid-Atlantic, one 10 regional categories in the JBF Awards. But Baltimore is still without a JBF Award winner in a chef category. The Mid-Atlantic winner announced on Monday was Johnny Monis of Koni in Washington.

Woodberry Kitchen's Spike Gjerde wasn't the only Baltimorean who got good news at Monday's announcement of the James Beard Award finalists.  Paul Lukacs, director of the Center for Humanities at Loyola University Maryland, was nominated for a James Beard Foundation Book Award. Lukacs' book, Inventing Wine: A New History of One of the World's Most Ancient Pleasures , was among three finalists in the Beverage category. Lukacs was a James Beard Foundation Book Award winner in 2001 for his previous book, American Vintage . The James Beard Foundation Book, Broadcast & Journalism Awards Dinner will take place on May 3 at Gotham Hall in New York City.

The James Beard Foundation announced the list of restaurant and chef semifinalists for the 2013 James Beard Foundation Awards. Cindy Wolf of Charleston and Spike Gjerde of Woodberry Kitchen are among the 20 semifinalists for Best Chef Mid Atlantic, one of 10 regional categories. Both chefs have made the semifinalists list before. Bryan Voltaggio, who has previously been among the Mid Atlantic semi-finalists, was not included this year. The five finalists in each category will be announced on March 18 and the winners will be announced on May 6. Among Baltimore chefs, only Wolf has made it to the finalist round, twice, in 2006 and 2008.

The Paula Deen-Anthony Bourdain feud spilled over into this week. Deen talked about it on the Today show. Eater National has a recap and update . A reader reminded me of the comments about Deen that Bourdain made during his May 2010 appearance at Baltimore's Hippodrome theater. The then-recent purchase of the Travel Channel by Scripps Howard had put Bourdain in the Food Network family. Bourdain told the Baltimore audience, "So, I'm their boy now... If Guy Fieri needs a bikini waxing, they're calling me. Or Paula Dean needs a erotic rubdown...

People flock to Pimlico Race Course on the third Saturday in May for the excitement, for a good party or for a stiff Black-Eyed Susan. The bill of fare, though, hasn't been high on the list of attractions since the Coolidge administration. The Maryland Jockey Club is looking to have the food at this year's race make the kind of lasting impression fans haven't seen since 1997, when Silver Charm, Free House and Captain Bodgit were separated at the finish by less than three feet.

Unlike those of us who merely sip wine and try to appreciate it, Paul Lukacs has channeled his passion for the drink into a second career, one in which he's increasingly recognized as one of this country's most authoritative voices on the topic. Lukacs' most recent book, "Inventing Wine," was just nominated for a James Beard Foundation Award. If he wins, it would be his second time earning the prize sometimes referred to as the food world's Oscar. When he's not writing books, reviewing wine or traveling the country as a wine judge, Lukacs can be found at Loyola University Maryland, where the 57-year-old is an English professor and director of the school's Center for the Humanities.

On August 22, 2005, JAMES W. BEARD Sr., beloved husband of Sharon L. Beard (nee Bitzelberger) devoted father of Renee A. Dailey, Angela L., Bernadette F., and James W. Beard Jr., dear grandfather of David, Brandi and Corey Allan, Daniel, Tiffaney and Megan Dailey. Also survived by three brothers and seven sisters. Visitation Thursday 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 P. M at the Cvach/Rosedale Funeral Home, 1211 Chesaco Avenue. Cremation private.

We're trying to convince kids that food does not come out of a box, and we're trying to encourage families to see cooking not as a chore but as quality time that families can spend together."

Christopher Kimball is a reluctant advocate of lighter eating. His history -- I met him 22 years ago when he was throwing a New York soiree honoring James Beard, Craig Claiborne and Julia Child -- is that of a full-flavor guy. If you go Christopher Kimball is to discuss and sign The Best Light Recipe at 7 p.m. today at Barnes & Noble, the Avenue at White Marsh, 8123 Honeygo Blvd. Call 410-933-9670.

KITCHEN TIP alicefeiring.com This blog by a wine columnist for Time magazine is up for an award from the James Beard Foundation. "I'm looking for the Leon Trotskys, the Philip Roths, the Chaucers and the Edith Whartons of the wine world," Feiring writes on her site. "I want my wines to tell a good story. ... For better or worse, it seems as if I am a wine cop traversing the earth, writing and speaking my mind, drinking and recommending wines that are honest." Kate Shatzkin