Bayless' 'Mexican Kitchen' cookbook of the year: IACP

Nation's Restaurant News, May 5, 1997

CHICAGO -- The International Association of Culinary Professionals awarded its Julia Child Cookbook Award for best cookbook of the year to "Rick Bayless's Mexican Kitchen."

Child presented the award to Bayless and co-authors Deann Bayless and Jean Marie Brownson during the IACP's 19th annual conference here before an audience of more than 1,200 foodservice professionals.

The Baylesses operate the Frontera Grill and Topolobampo Mexican restaurants in Chicago. They also won the award for best cookbook of the year in the chefs and restaurants category. This is their second award-winning cookbook.

In addition, "Spirit of the West: Cooking From Ranch House and Range," by Beverly Cox and Martin Jacobs, American category, received the TV Food Network Award; "Baking with Julia," by Dorie Greenspan, was feted in the bread, other baking and sweets category, "Curried Favors: Family Recipes from South India," by Maya Kaimal MacMillan, was honored as best first book with The Julia Child Award.

"Cocina!: A Hands-on Guide to the Techniques of Southwestern Cooking," by Leland Atkinson, won in the food reference/technical category; "Jacques Pepin's Kitchen: Cooking with Claudine," by Jacques Pepin, took top honors in the general category, receiving the Black & Decker Award; "1,000 Vegetarian Recipes," by Carol Gelles, health and special-diet category, captured the Bertolli Olive Oil Award; "Foods of Sicily & Sardinia and the Smaller Islands," by Guiliano Bugialli, won in the international category.

"The Debt to Pleasure: A Novel," by John Lanchester, literary food writing category, earned the Borders Award; "Fish and Shellfish," by James Peterson, single-subject category, received the JennAir Award; "A Wine and Food Guide to the Loire," by Jacqueline Friedrich, wine, beer or spirits category, was honored with the Beaulieu Vineyard Award; "Tukka: Real Australian Food," by Jean-Paul Bruneteau, received the Design Award; and "The Food of Paradise: Exploring Hawaii's Culinary Heritage," by Rachel Laudan, snagged the Jane Grigson Award, which honors distinguished scholarship.

The awards were presented by Food & Wine magazine and encourage and promote quality and creativity in food writing and publishing.