The James Beard Foundation is a non-profit located in NYC that exists for the preservation, development, and celebration of culinary excellence in the USA. Generally, the foundation invites chefs and restaurants from around the country to cook for celebrity audiences (anything ranging from Hollywood stars to politicians). OAK Steakhouse, for example, has been invited for the past 4 years.

I was researching Animal, Vegetable, Miracle and found that Barbara Kingsolver was actually given a James Beard Award for her innovative depiction and advocacy of sustainable agriculture and good, healthy, domestic food sources. I find this very interesting because I truly believe it indicates a culture shift (kind of like the fact that Subway now outnumbers McDonalds!). You'd expect a prestigious culinary institution to support the most sophisticated and complex of food creations, no matter where they are from; now, it seems as though such institutions are hopping on board the simple agricultural sustainable food movement.

This is mirrored by all the supporters of "Lowcountry Local First," which happen to be the fanciest restaurants in Charleston. Soon, our definition of delectable may be raw and straight from the farm!