The list of connections between the James Beard Foundation and the St. Louis food scene continues to grow longer. The culinary nonprofit has invited John Griffiths, executive chef of Truffles Restaurant (9202 Clayton Road) in Ladue, to cook a six-course meal at the James Beard House on June 26.
The news comes a day after four St. Louis chefs and the Central West End restaurant Salt earned semifinalist nods in the foundation's annual awards. Tuesday also brought news of a Celebrity Chef Tour to benefit the JBF that will come to Benton Park's Sidney Street Cafe on April 16. And P-D columnist Deb Peterson reported this month that St. Louis restaurateur Jim Fiala will cook at a private event at the James Beard House on March 20.
Griffiths will be following the footsteps of St. Louis chefs Stephen Gontram and Lou Rook III. Gontram, former chef-owner of Harvest, prepared a Thanksgiving meal for foundation members in November 1998; Rook, executive chef of Annie Gunn's in Chesterfield, cooked a St. Patrick's Day feast in March 2007.
Gontram and Rook both paired their Big Apple meals with tastes of Missouri: Gontram poured port from Augusta's Mount Pleasant Winery, and Rook served Missouri wine and Budweiser with an after-dinner cheese plate.
Will Griffiths continue that tradition? Find out by reserving a seat at his dinner, 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 26. Tickets cost $130-$170 will be available starting March 7 by calling 212-627-2308 and at jamesbeard.org starting April 1.
Evan S. Benn is the assistant editor of Go! magazine. He also writes about beer and food, and he is author of the 2011 Post-Dispatch book "Brew in the Lou: St. Louis' Beer Culture - Past, Present and Future," available here. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
