WOLFGANG PUCK HONORED AT CHEFS DINNER

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TIMES SQUARE GOSSIP

IN THE

HAMPTON'S

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The James Beard Foundation Honors

Chef Wolfgang Puck

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Wolfgang Puck And Hamptons.com Editor Nicole Brewer

Allan Wysean And Kim Cattrall

James Beard Foundation toasted multiple James Beard Foundation Award-winner Wolfgang Puck as the guest of honor at Chefs & Champagne® New York at the Wölffer Estate Vineyard in Sagaponack, New York. Over 770 guests, including actress Kim Cattrall and restaurateur Sirio Maccioni of Le Cirque fame, attended the annual lavish tasting party and fundraiser which featured culinary offerings from a select group of 35 fine chefs from New York City and beyond, flowing Champagnes, and the wines of Wölffer Estate Vineyard.The James Beard Foundation's annual Chefs & Champagne gala is considered the East End’s premiere culinary event. A silent auction consisting of fine dining experiences, rare wines and spirits, cookware and culinary travel packages raised over $42,000 to support the James Beard Foundation’s mission and educational programs. With a long tradition of supporting culinary education, two of the 2008 James Beard Foundation Scholarship Program recipients were acknowledged at the event. Robert Hawk of Cohoes, NY received the Christian Wölffer Scholarship and Christina Cassel of Sagaponack, NY received the Peter Kump Memorial Scholarship. Established in 2006, the scholarship fund supports students in their study of food and wine. More Infomation click here.

WOLFGANG PUCK BATTLES OVER HIS NAME

Restaurant icon Wolfgang Puck is accusing a fellow restaurateur of cashing in on his fame by using his name to open a rival eatery,even though the other cook is also called Wolfgang. Puck, who owns a series of restaurants under his business name Wolfgang Puck Companies, is threatening to file a lawsuit against Wolfgang Zwiener, who he claims has copied his trademark name. Zwiener has opened a rival restaurant called Wolfgang’s Steakhouse, just blocks from Puck’s Spago eatery in Beverly Hills, California. According to gossip website TMZ, one of the owners of Wolfgang’s Steakhouse had a license to use the trademarked name, but that expired last year. And Puck is furious his name is frequently being linked to a restaurant which has nothing to do with him - because it confuses his loyal customers. He says, "The most common reaction is, ‘It says Wolfgang’s Steakhouse and you are Wolfgang.’" If Puck does goes through with the lawsuit, he plans to claim damages for trademark infringement and unfair competition.

THE CELEBRITY LIST GROWS FOR WOLFGANG PUCK'S CATERING 'HEPATITIS A' FOOD SCARE

No Gloves Wolfgang Puck ?

Drew Barrymore, Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant may have been exposed to Hepatitis A, as the list of Hollywood celebrities who ate tainted food cooked by an infected caterer grows longer and longer. Along with TR Knight, Jimmy Falon and Adam Brody, the stars attended a party for the movie Music and Lyrics last month, which had food provided by Wolfgang Puck Catering. All the guests who attended the party have received a letter from the Los Angeles Health Department informing them "about a public health issue that has arisen." The party was one of 14 catered events where people may have been exposed to Hep A by an infected cook working for Wolfgang Puck Catering, authorities said. Most often spread though fecal-oral contact, such as touching hand to mouth after using the bathroom, Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver that causes jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and fever. The Music and Lyrics party is only the second of the suspect events that have been made public in the States, as authorities appear to be concealing information in a bid to protect the names of extremely high profile celebrities who may have been infected. Beyonce Knowles is counting herself lucky for not eating at a Sports Illustrated party in Los Angeles last month. The February 14 bash in West Hollywood, California, was also catered by the sick cook, and was attended by Knowles and many of the magazine's models. "Thank goodness, neither one of us ate. According to the health department, she wasn't at risk," Beyonce's publicist Alan Nierob says. According to news outlets, guests at the parties have all received letters that ask them to think back to if they ate any uncooked food at the events in question. To help them remember, the letter provides a list of uncooked food that was served. It reportedly includes:
Mini Potato Skins Bar: Sour Cream, Chives and Vermont Cheddar Taco/Fajita Bar: Shredded Lettuce, Chopped Tomatoes, Shredded Cheese, Guacamole, and Sour Cream80's Comfort Station: Peanut Butter Fluffer Nutters Pasta Bar: Caesar Salad Dessert Station: Vanilla Ice Cream, Bowls of Gummy Bears. Guests who consumed the uncooked food are recommended to get a gamma globulin shot within 14 days of exposure. For many of the 3,500 people reportedly exposed, they received the letter from the Health Department too late to protect themselves.
"If they didn't touch the food, they're not going to have a problem," Dr Jonathan Fielding, Los Angeles County's' director of public health, said. The Wolfgang Puck cook has been placed on medical leave. No illnesses have been reported as yet. Hepatitis A does not typically have a chronic stage and will not cause permanent liver damage, unlike the life-threatening Hepatitis C virus.