James Beard Foundation Introduces New Awards for Outstanding Baker, Original Podcast

Recognizing the ever-evolving dining landscape and the talented women and men who create or cover restaurants and food, today the James Beard Foundation announced a few new categories to its annual award categories.

In addition to the Outstanding Pastry Chef award, the JBF has added a category for Outstanding Baker. Said Restaurant and Chef Awards committee chair Phil Vettel in a release, "The Outstanding Baker award grew from our desire to honor those professionals working beyond the restaurant dessert realm. Along with Outstanding Pastry Chef, this award acknowledges the vitality of the pastry and baking professions, in restaurants and in bakeries of many kinds, and the importance of bread and dessert to the dining experience."

Additionally, there are two new categories for Broadcast Media within the JBF Book, Broadcast, and Journalism Awards: One for Podcasts and the other for Visual and Technical Excellence. Finally, the Alton Browncast can win the award it deserves.

The awards, which are now open for submissions, are announced each spring. This year's restaurant award ceremony will take place in Chicago in May; it's the first time the awards will not take place in New York City. Journalism awards will take place in NYC in late April.