James Beard Celebrity Chef Tour returns to Sarasota on Wed., Dec. 3 at Darwin’s on 4th
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 5 2014 Sarasota, Fla
For the third consecutive year, the James Beard Foundation’s Celebrity Chef Tour will return to Darwin’s on 4th (1525 4th St.) at 6:30 p.m., Wed., Dec. 3. Tickets for the five-course meal are $200 per person and include beer and wine pairings throughout. Guest celebrity chefs James Baselici of Louie’s Modern in Sarasota, Paul Anders of Sweet Basil and Mountain Standard in Vail, Colo., and Steve Phelps of Indigenous in Sarasota and host celebrity chef Darwin Santa Maria will each prepare a course of the meal.
“Sarasota is now a culinary destination and events like this solidfy that reputation,” said chef Darwin Santa Maria. “Personally, I’m humbled that the James Beard Foundation would ask us to host the event for the third time, and excited to share the kitchen with two great local chefs, James Baselici and Steve Phelps, plus a favorite of mine from Colorado, Paul Anders.”
The guest chefs offer a broad range of accolades and experience:
James Baselici specializes in contemporary American cuisine and is executive chef at Louies Modern, which earned Best New Restaurant from both Florida Trend and SRQ Magazine under his leadership in 2014. Baselici’s own restaurant, Catch 22, specializes in local Florida seafood and earned Best New Restaurant in the 2005 Palm Beach Zagat guide.
Paul Anders is classically trained and five-star tested in the kitchens of the Four Seasons Hotel in Newport Beach, the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver, and the Broadmoor Resort in Colorado Springs. Chef Anders’ experience running four and five star kitchens prepared him to become executive chef and partner at both Sweet Basil and Mountain Standard in Vail, Colo.
Steve Phelps opened Indigenous in 2011, and since then has honed his reputation as one of the region’s most inspirational and educational chefs, earning a James Beard Foundation semifinalist nomination for Best Chef, South in 2014. Originally from Cleveland, Phelps’ talents blossomed under the training of his uncle and later at the flagship Hyde Park Steakhouse before he moved to Sarasota, helping spark interest in sustainability sourced seafood and more.
Darwin Santa Maria was born in the jungles of Peru and continued his journey at Johnson & Wales Culinary College before beginning a professional career at the renowned Michael’s on East in Sarasota. Since then, Santa Maria was named the 2012 Best Peruvian Chef in America by the Peruvian Embassy in Washington, one of the 2013 Best Chefs America, and received an Award of Excellence from Tumi USA in 2014.
The Celebrity Chef Tour began in 2004 with a mission to bring the unique experience of dining at New York City’s historic James Beard House to cities around the country. Past guest celebrity chefs have included Jacques Pepin, Emeril Lagasse, Pascal Oudin and Diego Oka. Chefs collaborate to create a themed menu and provide an interactive dining service.
James Beard Foundation Celebrity Chef Tour Dinner: 6:30 p.m., Wed. Dec. 3, Darwin’s on 4th, 1525 4th St., 343-2165 or darwinson4th.com, $200. |
