3rd Annual Taste Award Winners

For the 3rd Annual Taste Awards, culinary, fashion, and drink celebrities of TV and the web gathered on Thursday, January 12th at the historic Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood.

Highlights included Debi Mazar’s speech about her love and adoration for her husband. She also spoke about future plans if her “Extra Virgin” cooking show on Cooking Channel didn’t work out – she would move to Tuscany and eat, drink and make love!

Tony Tripoli, comedy writer for Joan River’s Fashion Police on E!, brought the house down with his irreverent quibbles.

Jolene Sugarbaker of Trailer Park Test Kitchen, one of the celebrity award presenters at the Taste Awards, also charmed the audience with her blonde bouffant, neon blue eyeshadow and southern twang.

Other celebrity presenters included the Food Network’s Carrie McCully, Tanya Holland, Manouschka Guerrier, and Candice Kumai, Bravo TV’s Fabio Viviani, Nyesha Arrington, and Danielle Keene, Public Television’s Joanne Weir and Nathan Lyon, ION TV’s Michelle Harris, food broadcast gurus Bobby Bognar, Zuzy Martin Lynch, and Susan Irby, plus food and drink humorists Zane Lamprey.

Special Achievement Honoree Awards presented during the evening went to Kung Fu Panda 2 (The Seiji Horibuchi Award for Outstanding Animation) and Debi Mazar (Outstanding Passion). Mad Fashion (Bravo), Kaitlyn’s Beauty Journal (KTSF), and Nail Files (TV Guide) were given the Breakout Fashionistas of the Year Award, and Cuisine Culture (Public Television), Ludo Bites America (Sundance Channel), and Restaurant Impossible (Food Network) were given the Kikkoman Award for Breakout Foodies of the Year. Kikkoman was a sponsor of the event.

Among the evening’s Award Winners were television programs such as the Travel Channel’s “No Reservations” for Best Food Program and for Best Food Travel Series, Zane Lamprey’s HDNet series “Drinking Made Easy” for Best Drink or Beverage Program, Cooking Channel’s “Originals with Emeril” for Best New Series and “Extra Virgin” for Best Home Chef in a Series, Lifetime’s “Project Runway” for Best Fashion or Design Program, Bravo’s “Top Chef: Just Desserts” for Best Single Topic Series and “Top Chef” for the Kikkoman Award for Best Reality Series – Food or Drink, the Food Network’s “Aarti Party” for Best Green or Organic Program, and ABC’s “Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution” for Best Chef in a Series.

Public Television series “Check Please, Bay Area” picked up Best City or Regional Program, and “Mexico – One Plate at a Time” received the award for Best Ethnic Program.

Web winners included “My Drunk Kitchen” for Best Comedy Series, “Without Borders” for Best Food Travel Program, “Style.com” for Best Fashion or Design Programs on the Web, “Average Betty” for the Best Critic or Review Series (on TV or Web), “Raising the Bar with Jamie Boudreau” for Best Drink or Beverage Program, and “Food Wishes”, which was presented by Austin Lau of YouTube and which won the award for Best Food Program on the Web, along with a foodie trip to Estonia. “Bon Appetit” magazine won for Best Newspaper or Magazine Program.

In the film category, “Magnum Ice Cream Original Short Film Series by Karl Lagerfeld” picked up the award for Best Film or Documentary, and in the new Radio category, Evan Kleiman “Good Food on KCRW” got the win, along with “Come Dine With Me” (BBC America) for Best International Program.

The Taste (pronounced tasty) Awards after party was a Dionysian feast of succulent roasted goose from Pig n’ Whistle, Estonian Chef Marika Blossfeldt‘s uber-delicious and healthy beet salad and fresh baked bread and tipples from Alquimia Tequila tastings to vodka cocktails to wine.

A full list of Award Winners, Honorees, and Nominees, plus event photos and coverage, can be seen on the site, www.TheTasteAwards.com.