Tom Colicchio Named Top Chef for 2010

The James Beard Foundation recently named Tom Colicchio, consulting Chef for Cassique’s private restaurant and pub, Voysey’s, the nation’s top chef.

Tom Colicchio, whose numerous restaurants include Craft, Craftsteak, and the recently opened Colicchio & Sons in New York, was named outstanding chef during an awards ceremony that is considered the Oscars of the food world. It's an honor for which he'd been a finalist seven other times since 2002, the same year the organization named Craft the nation's best new restaurant.

Though Colicchio drew many accolades early in his career, he rose to prominence in 1994 when he and partner Danny Meyer opened Gramercy Tavern, which earned Colicchio three stars from The New York Times and several Beard awards, including best chef in New York City in 2000 and outstanding restaurant service in 2001.

Colicchio's cookbook, Think Like a Chef, earned him a Beard cookbook award in 2001. More recently, he's become known for his role as the lead judge on the Bravo television series, Top Chef.

The Beard Foundation also named its top regional chefs around the country, and Sean Brock of McCrady’s restaurant in Charleston took home the award for the Southeast. McCrady's restaurant is the third Charleston chef in five years to win the James Beard Foundation's award for Best Chef Southeast. Previous Charleston winners are Mike Lata of Fig and Bob Stehling of Hominy Grill.

The James Beard awards honor those who follow in the footsteps of Beard, considered the dean of American cooking when he died in 1985. The awards ceremony was held in New York, where the Beard Foundation is based.

For more information about Voysey’s or to view the Tom Colicchio-designed menu, visit http://www.kiawahislandclub.com/club/venuesCassique.php.