Awards season broke into full stride Thursday night at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood with the 2nd Annual Tasty Awards. The Tasty Awards celebrate and recognize the year’s best achievements in food, fashion, and home lifestyle programing — honoring talent in the space where the Emmys leave off and the Academy Awards begin. The event attracted a number of television celebrities, including Top Chef Fabio Viviani (above), whose charming presence complemented the unseasonably warm SoCal evening.
Like any fledgling awards show, there were hiccups in logistics and flow; however, with Zane Lamprey, Bobby Bognar and Nathan Lyon at the MC wheel, even hiccups are entertaining. Appearances from culinary greats like Hubert Keller (above), Aida Mollenkamp, Manouschka Guerrier, Candice Kumai and of course, Fabio Viviani, didn’t hurt either.
And thanks to the very talented and approachable Brian Boitano (shown above wearing my coat), we all got an answer to the question, “What Would Brian Boitano Wear?” If only I had “forgotten” to get my coat back from Brian I might have an excuse to call and get him on the show (or for skating lessons).
Average Betty was nominated in six categories in the 2011 Tasty Awards: Best Food Program on the Web, Best Food or Drink Video Podcast, Best Critic or Review Series, Best Comedy Series, Best Home Chef in a Series and Best Female Host in a Series. And though not a winner this year, Average Betty was recognized by the Tasty Awards with an Honorable Mention. Thanks to all of you who voted and supported Average Betty!
Big congratulations of the evening go to good friends and fellow YouTubers, Chef John Mitzewich (middle) of FoodWishes who won Best Home Chef in a Series, and Jolene Sugarbaker (right) the Trailer Park Queen who took home Best Comedy Series.
Make no mistake about it: The people of the Tasty Awards know how to party! Lubricated with cocktails from Vad Spirits, satiated with Coconut Pineapple Chicken (YUM!) from Starry Kitchen and wooed with chocolate from Pure Dark, the courtyard at the Egyptian Theatre was a tasty mix of food and drink peppered with hot fashionistas and spicy personalities. What makes the evening truly special for me is meeting online friends in person, including Eddie Lin (above) of Deep End Dining, the Wanna Be TV Chef, Stuart Donald, Phil Nigash of My Life as a Foodie, and Susan Sterling of The Naked Wine Show.
And what awards show would be complete without a gift bag? The total score: a pair of Summer Jasmines pedicure sandals (you gotta check out these creative, cute and compact sandals), a Cooking for the Clueless DVD, a Valcooks cup cozy, gift cards from Cooking.com, panko and ponzu from Kikkoman, snacks from Food Should Taste Good, Chocolate Bark from Pure Dark and a copy of Imbibe magazine. I may have also lucked into a bottle of VAD… but that’s only because I was in close proximity to the food and drink party machine otherwise known as Eddie Lin.
The second annual Tasty Awards were a success. Bringing the ceremony to Hollywood and the VIP pre-party to the Crescent Beverly Hills were great decisions. There is no doubt that the talented group of people behind the Tasty Awards will make improvements to the ceremony in the coming years, attracting even more A-list talent and corporate sponsors. It’s an honor to be a part of the Tasty Awards and I can’t wait to see how it grows! (Shown above from left: Lee O’Donnell, Nathan Lyon, Zane Lamprey, lil’ ol’ me, Bobby Bognar and John Mitzewich.)
More on the 2011 Tasty Awards:
Serious Eats
Foodwishes
Drink, Eat, Travel
Wanna Be TV Chef
Stiletto Chef
Congrats on the nominations, dahhling! (It’s all about the gift bags anyway, no?) I just love the pictures, and I’m so glad you guys had a great time.
Ah shucks, you make me feel purdy. Great hanging with the likes of Chef John, the Bikini Chef and Average Betty.
Thanks, Jen! It was a blast… and ironically the Honorable Mention is like 3 inches taller than the Best Home Chef in a Series (from last year) proving once again that bigger isn’t always better lol <3
Stuart, I know you have photos– we didn’t take any with my camera :) Was so great to meet you<3
Sure, bigger isn’t always better, but 3 inches? That’s pretty significant.
Large awards have nothing on the little bit of time I got to spend with you guys! Thanks for the mentions and for the memorable night!
Chef John… you are the man <3