American Cuisine Yielded Good Outcomes in 2014

For the American Academy of Gastronomy –East Chapter- the year 2014 has spun a yarn as if it were a genuine fairytale.  

Some fifteen years ago, the United States of America were gastronomically known the land of hotdog eaters and hamburger guzzlers, with very mediocre wines to top it all off.

But things have changed dramatically in the nation’s gastronomic sense. Now the states of California and Oregon are producing high-quality and world-class wines at lower costs than those made in Europe, which continue to be excellent, nice-tasting wines.

New York City has turned out to be a “Gastronomic Mecca”, the city of the world –second best only to Paris- with the largest number of Michelin stars under its belt.

Only on the island of Manhattan, there are five three-star restaurants, plus scores of others that boast one or two stars.

For our American Academy of Gastronomy: East, last year brought tremendous success as the International Academy of Gastronomy, a Paris-based institution with 28 member countries, awarded us with three major prizes. The most important of all is the “World’s Best Chef Prize” that went to Mr. Grant Achatz from the Alinea Restaurant in Chicago. Chef Achatz is a legitimate artist who has lived out heart-wrenching hardships, like a battle against tongue cancer.

Losing the sense of taste is no doubt the worst thing a chef can endure. But fortunately he got over it completely following an all-out medical treatment. As curious as it might sound, a sweet taste was the first sensation that popped back up in him after the recovery, as a token of solidarity five of the most celebrated American chefs huddled in his kitchen in Chicago and came up with an all-sweet dinner. That was for sure a touching and gripping scene in the same breath.

Another distinguished prize went to David Gelb for his incredible job as gastronomy filmmaking director. Mr. Gelb produced a documentary entitled “Jiro Dreams of Sushi” and his new series named “Chefs’ Table” for the Netflix network.

David Gelb is a young man from the city of Los Angeles who not only showcases the art of the most outstanding chefs from around the world, but also captures the human side of these people in a very special way. The American Academy of Gastronomy presented him with this major prize on June 25 during a gala dinner held at the Navesink Country Club in New Jersey.

Within the framework of this ceremony, a film from his “Chef’s Table” series was screened. The movie depicts the art of Massimo Bottura at the Osteria Francescana Restaurant in Modena, Italy. As a matter of fact, this establishment has just finished as the runner-up on the list of the world’s top-50 restaurants.

The third prize we were honored with is the one to the Best Sommelier, awarded to Mr. Dustin Wilson from the Eleven Madison Park Restaurant in New York. Mr. Wilson is a master sommelier with an extraordinary eye to pick the right wine.

So, now you know it. If you really want to eat and drink well, you’re invited to come to America and we will welcome you with open arms and well-tuned palates.