Alan Richman beams with his two-fisted wins for outstanding writing in GQ magazine. (Photo: Michael Anstendig)

Last night, two titans of food writing emerged triumphantly from the James Beard Foundation Media Awards clutching two prestigious medals apiece: the avuncular yet sassy Alan Richman, contributor to GQ, for “Made (Better) in Japan” and “¡Viva La Revolución!,” and the grande dame of Gourmet, Ruth Reichl, for “The Last Time I Saw Paris…” and “The Test Kitchen.” Scroll down for the complete list of winners.

Other notable champs included PBS’s Lidia Bastianich, WNYC’s Leonard Lopate, The Wall Street Journal’s Katy McLaughlin, New York’s Adam Platt, former Eat Out editor and now Epicurious’s James Oliver Cury, The Atlantic’s Corby Kummer and CBS News Sunday Morning’s Martha Teichner.

The sold-out soiree, held at the Millennium Hotel’s Hudson Theatre, presented the ultimate kudos for culinary wordsmiths who toil at newspapers, magazines, broadcast media and online, and seldom get to bask in the limelight. Ted Allen (Chopped/Food Detectives) was the evening’s amiable host, and award presenters included a glammed-up Kelly Choi (Top Chef Masters), Saveur’s James Oseland and Stephanie Izard (Top Chef victor). Douglas Fir Gimlets by Audrey Saunders (Pegu Club) got everyone off to a giddy start, and the free-flowing Perrier-Jouët champagne didn’t hurt either. While chefs are the rock stars of the culinary world, it was nice to see its writers duly feted.—Michael Anstendig

The complete list of winners:

2009 James Beard Foundation Journalism Awards

MFK Fisher Distinguished Writing Award
Aleksandra Crapanzano
Gourmet
“Benedictions”
09/08

Multimedia Writing on Food
Ruth Reichl
Gourmet.com
“The Test Kitchen”

Website Focusing on Food, Beverage, Restaurant, or Nutrition
Epicurious.com
Tanya Steel

Food Related Columns
Corby Kummer
The Atlantic
“A Papaya Grows in Holyoke”; “Beyond the McIntosh”; “Half a Loaf”
04/08, 05/08, 10/08

Reporting on Nutrition or Consumer Issues
Rachael Moeller Gorman
EatingWell
“How to Feed Your Mind”
09/10/08

Restaurant Reviews
Adam Platt
New York magazine
“Faux French”; “The Mario of Midtown”; “Corton on Hudson”
07/14/08, 09/15/08, 11/24/08

Newspaper Feature Writing with Recipes
Rebekah Denn
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
“High on the Hairy Hogs: Super-Succulent Imports are Everything U.S. Pork Isn’t”
04/09/08

Newspaper Feature Writing Without Recipes
Kristen Hinman
Riverfront Times
“The Pope of Pork”
11/27/08

Writing on Spirits, Wine, or Beer
Alan Richman
GQ
“Viva La Revolucion!”
09/08

Magazine Feature Writing About Restaurants and/or Chefs
Ruth Reichl
Gourmet
“The Last Time I Saw Paris…”
09/08

Magazine Feature Writing with Recipes
Edna Lewis
Gourmet
“What is Southern?” *
01/08
*Published Posthumously

Magazine Feature Writing Without Recipes
Alan Richman
GQ
“Made (Better) in Japan”
03/08

Newspaper Feature Writing About Restaurants and/or Chefs
Katy McLaughlin
The Wall Street Journal
“Sushi Bullies”
10/24/08

Newspaper Food Section
The Washington Post
Joe Yonan

Blog Focusing on Food, Beverage, Restaurant, or Nutrition
Erika Ehmsen, Elizabeth Jardina, Rick LaFrentz, Amy Machnak, Johanna Silver, Margaret Sloan,
Margo True
Our One-Block Diet
Oneblockdiet.sunset.com

For television, webcast, and radio programs:

Audio Webcast or Radio Show
WNYC, The Leonard Lopate Show:
3-Ingredient Challenge
Hosts: Leonard Lopate, Rozanne Gold
Area: New York City Metro, Online
Producer: Sarah English

Video Webcast
Savoring the Best of World Flavors, Volume III: Vietnam and the Island
of Sicily
Host: Jonathan Coleman
Website: Ciaprochef.com/WCA3/
Producers: John Barkley, Kenneth Wilmoth, Greg Drescher, Steve Jilleba, Janet Fletcher

Television Food Show, National or Local
Lidia’s Italy: Sweet Napoli
Host: Lidia Matticchio Bastianich
Network: PBS
Air Date: 04/08/08
Producers: Lidia Matticchio Bastianich,
Julia Harrison, Shelly Burgess Nicotra

Television Food Segment, National or Local
CBS News Sunday Morning: In a Pinch
Host: Martha Teichner
Network: CBS
Air Date: 10/26/08
Producers: Jon Carras, David Small