Bon Appetit editor Andrew Knowlton makes his James Beard winner predictions... which include Frasca Food and Wine

Tonight, chefs and restaurateurs from around the country will claim medals -- shiny tokens that dub them the best in the country at their craft -- at the James Beard Awards ceremony in New York City. In anticipation of the event, Andrew Knowlton, restaurant and drinks editor at Bon Appetit,...

By Laura Shunk

May 9, 2011

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Tonight, chefs and restaurateurs from around the country will claim medals -- shiny tokens that dub them the best in the country at their craft -- at the James Beard Awards ceremony in New York City.

In anticipation of the event, Andrew Knowlton, restaurant and drinks editor at Bon Appetit, has made his predictions -- and he's got Boulder's Frasca Food and Wine pegged to take home the award for Outstanding Wine Service.

Master Sommelier Bobby Stuckey and his staff have vied for this honor before, only to be edged out by other teams.

But this year, anticipates Knowlton, is the Friulian restaurant's time to shine. "I can only imagine what bottle Stuckey and his formidable staff will pop open after their win," he writes. We hope he's right.

Colorado's got another horse in the race, too: Ryan Hardy, the chef from the Little Nell in Aspen who has vacated his post for New York City. Knowlton made a different prediction for Best Chef Southwest, giving the nod to Uchi kitchen master Tyson Cole, but we hope our homestate hero will pick up the medal tonight instead before he leaves the Rocky Mountains for good.

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Laura Shunk was Westword's restaurant critic from 2010 to 2012; she's also been food editor at the Village Voice and a dining columnist in Beijing. Her toughest assignment had her drinking ten martinis and eating ten Caesar salads over the course of 48 hours. She still drinks martinis, but remains lukewarm on Caesar salads.

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