CHICAGO —From neighborhood establishments to luxurious country inns, the 10 newest members of the Nation’s Restaurant News Fine Dining Hall of Fame reflect the vast array of dining experiences available in some of the country’s most notable upscale restaurants.
The 2007 inductees will be celebrated May 20 at NRN’s Fine Dining Hall of Fame Luncheon, sponsored by American Express and held at Chicago’s Ritz-Carlton Hotel. In addition to the Hall of Fame awards, famed chef and restaurateur Wolfgang Puck will be honored as the 2007 Fine Dining Legend. —From neighborhood establishments to luxurious country inns, the 10 newest members of the Nation’s Restaurant News Fine Dining Hall of Fame reflect the vast array of dining experiences available in some of the country’s most notable upscale restaurants.
The new inductees into the Fine Dining Hall of Fame are: —From neighborhood establishments to luxurious country inns, the 10 newest members of the Nation’s Restaurant News Fine Dining Hall of Fame reflect the vast array of dining experiences available in some of the country’s most notable upscale restaurants.
Ahwahnee Dining Room, Yosemite National Park, California. Located in the historic Ahwahnee Hotel, this restaurant features California and Mediterranean cuisine from executive chef Percy Whatley. Considered the crown jewel of Yosemite dining, the Ahwahnee boasts a high-beamed ceiling and large sugar pine trestles that complement the room’s granite pillars. Floor-to-ceiling windows, majestic chandeliers, linen tablecloths and beautiful china contribute to a memorable decor. —From neighborhood establishments to luxurious country inns, the 10 newest members of the Nation’s Restaurant News Fine Dining Hall of Fame reflect the vast array of dining experiences available in some of the country’s most notable upscale restaurants. Blackberry Farm, Walland, Tenn. Founded in 1976, this luxury resort hotel from proprietor Sam Beall, founder of the Ruby Tuesday casual-dining chain, sits on a 4,200-acre estate in the Great Smoky Mountains. While at Blackberry, guests experience executive chef John Fleer’s celebrated Foothills cuisine. Each day the culinary team prepares three dining experiences using the best ingredients from the on-property heirloom garden as well as from local and national food purveyors and small exclusive producers. —From neighborhood establishments to luxurious country inns, the 10 newest members of the Nation’s Restaurant News Fine Dining Hall of Fame reflect the vast array of dining experiences available in some of the country’s most notable upscale restaurants. Blue Hill, New York City. Nested in a landmark “speakeasy” just off Washington Square in the heart of New York City’s Greenwich Village, Blue Hill is a new category of neighborhood restaurant that offers warmth and affordability while delivering superior food and service. Launched in 2000 by Dan, David and Laureen Barber, Blue Hill features seasonal American cuisine that celebrates the produce of New York’s Hudson Valley. —From neighborhood establishments to luxurious country inns, the 10 newest members of the Nation’s Restaurant News Fine Dining Hall of Fame reflect the vast array of dining experiences available in some of the country’s most notable upscale restaurants. Cashion’s Eat Place, Washington, D.C. Owners Ann Cashion and John Fulchino opened Cashion’s in 1995 in a neighborhood better known for its lively club scene than for its restaurants. Their goal was to combine refinement with folksiness in an unpretentious atmosphere. Helping achieve that objective is the comfort food prepared by chef Cashion for a seasonal American menu that changes daily but typically features a mixed fry of seafood and roast chicken. —From neighborhood establishments to luxurious country inns, the 10 newest members of the Nation’s Restaurant News Fine Dining Hall of Fame reflect the vast array of dining experiences available in some of the country’s most notable upscale restaurants. Fore Street, Portland, Maine. Chef-owner Sam Hayward opened Fore Street in 1996 just a block from the waterfront in Portland’s Old Port District. New England cuisine tops a menu that uses raw materials supplied by a community of Maine farmers, fishermen, foragers and cheese makers. The restaurant’s interior includes a wood-burning oven, grill and turnspit, which are visible from most tables. Hardwood and apple wood fires cook and flavor the seafood, meats, game and vegetables. —From neighborhood establishments to luxurious country inns, the 10 newest members of the Nation’s Restaurant News Fine Dining Hall of Fame reflect the vast array of dining experiences available in some of the country’s most notable upscale restaurants. Giovanni’s on the Hill, St. Louis. Founded in 1975, Giovanni’s has been a fixture on the Hill for more than three decades. Chef-owner Giovanni Gabriele’s noteworthy Italian establishment is perfect for a special romantic evening or a night out with family and friends. The food and service are impeccable at this dining destination, which has served every U.S. president since Ronald Reagan. —From neighborhood establishments to luxurious country inns, the 10 newest members of the Nation’s Restaurant News Fine Dining Hall of Fame reflect the vast array of dining experiences available in some of the country’s most notable upscale restaurants. Jar, Los Angeles. Amodern chophouse in the heart of Los Angeles, Jar packs them in with the allure of chef-owner Suzanne Tracht’s familiar retro dishes, including her signature pot roast, Kansas City steak, award-winning French fries, market-fresh sides and martinis. Founded in 2001 as a quintessential neighborhood restaurant, Jar is designed in warm and rich shades of brown and infused with the artistry of a 1940s supper club. —From neighborhood establishments to luxurious country inns, the 10 newest members of the Nation’s Restaurant News Fine Dining Hall of Fame reflect the vast array of dining experiences available in some of the country’s most notable upscale restaurants. Le Vichyssois, Lakemoor, Ill. This French country inn was created in 1976 by chef-owner Bernard Cretier, a native of Vichy, France. Chef Cretier apprenticed under such great French chefs as Paul Bocuse and spent six years as executive chef at Maxim’s in Chicago. Scrumptious entrées from Le Vichyssois include Salmon en Croûte, grilled Pacific halibut, fillets of Dover sole, braised lamb shanks, roast duck and Angus sirloin steak. —From neighborhood establishments to luxurious country inns, the 10 newest members of the Nation’s Restaurant News Fine Dining Hall of Fame reflect the vast array of dining experiences available in some of the country’s most notable upscale restaurants. Restaurant August, New Orleans. Contemporary French and Creole-Cajun-Southern cuisine is featured at this Big Easy establishment, which was founded in 2001 by chef-owner John Besh. Louisiana redfish and fillet of St. Pierre are a few notables on a menu that features fish, fowl, meat and game. There is also a five-course tasting menu. Guests at August are encouraged to dine in leisure, allowing at least three hours for their meals. —From neighborhood establishments to luxurious country inns, the 10 newest members of the Nation’s Restaurant News Fine Dining Hall of Fame reflect the vast array of dining experiences available in some of the country’s most notable upscale restaurants. Town, New York City. Tucked inside the Chambers Hotel in New York, Town is a sleek two-story restaurant opened in 2001 by chef-owner Geoffrey Zakarian. Town’s menu is a modern interpretation of classical French cuisine. The 40-seat balcony lounge features settees bathed in “liquid leather,” while strands of crystal beads cascade down 24-foot high ceilings to the 100-seat dining room. —From neighborhood establishments to luxurious country inns, the 10 newest members of the Nation’s Restaurant News Fine Dining Hall of Fame reflect the vast array of dining experiences available in some of the country’s most notable upscale restaurants.
“An exquisite meal at a fine restaurant is one of life’s great pleasures, and that’s what these 10 restaurants deliver day in and day out their own unique way,” said NRN publisher Alan Gould. “We look forward to inducting them into the Fine Dining Hall of Fame on May 20 in Chicago.” —From neighborhood establishments to luxurious country inns, the 10 newest members of the Nation’s Restaurant News Fine Dining Hall of Fame reflect the vast array of dining experiences available in some of the country’s most notable upscale restaurants.
“It is always an honor to add 10 great restaurants to the Fine Dining Hall of Fame, and we at American Express congratulate each of these establishments, their proprietors and staff for upholding the tradition of superior food, service and ambiance that is at the heart of white-tablecloth dining in this country,” said Curtis Wilson, vice president and general manager of the Restaurant Industries Group for American Express. —From neighborhood establishments to luxurious country inns, the 10 newest members of the Nation’s Restaurant News Fine Dining Hall of Fame reflect the vast array of dining experiences available in some of the country’s most notable upscale restaurants.
Founded in 1980, the NRN Fine Dining Hall of Fame now includes more than 200 restaurants. The criteria for nomination include excellence in food quality, service, ambience, and leadership in training and motivating staff. Prospective members are nominated by current Hall of Fame members and NRN editors, with final selections made by NRN’s editors and publisher —From neighborhood establishments to luxurious country inns, the 10 newest members of the Nation’s Restaurant News Fine Dining Hall of Fame reflect the vast array of dining experiences available in some of the country’s most notable upscale restaurants.