Mark Bittman and other APT chefs were nominated for James Beard Awards

JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION RECOGNIZES TWO AMERICAN PUBLIC TELEVISION CULINARY PROGRAMS

Several potential honors for best Television Food Programs and other TV host recognition by James Beard Foundation.

Boston (March 27, 2008) - The James Beard Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that celebrates America's culinary heritage, names two American Public Television (APT) programs for nomination of its 2008 Broadcast Media Awards, to be awarded June 8, 2008 in New York City.

The annual awards honor chefs, wine consultants and cookbook authors for their achievements in the culinary arts. Nominated for best Television Food Show, National and Local are two APT series: THE BEST RECIPES IN THE WORLD WITH MARK BITTMAN OF THE NEW YORK TIMES, in which New York Times food critic Mark Bittman ventures across America and Europe in search of each continent's best cuisines, and GOURMET'S DIARY OF A FOODIE, the entertaining series that uncovers the latest cutting-edge food trends, must-use ingredients, kitchen gadgets and food destinations. This is the second nomination for GOURMET'S DIARY OF A FOODIE. The series was awarded best National Television Food Show for its premiere season at last year's awards presentation.

In addition, three hosts of APT programs have received nominations in the James Beard Foundation Books Awards category: Bittman for How to Cook Everything Vegetarian: Simple Meatless Recipes for Great Food, Jacques Pépin of FAST FOOD MY WAY for Chez Jacques: Traditions and Rituals of a Cook, and Lidia Bastianich of LIDIA'S ITALY for Lidia's Italy: 140 Simple and Delicious Recipes from the Ten Places in Italy Lidia Loves Most.

All the above APT shows air nationally on public television stations as well as the digital lifestyle channel Create TV. Create TV is also proud to announce PBS's THE VICTORY GARDEN as a nominee for Best Television Food Segment, National or Local.

About American Public Television:
With more than 10,000 hours of programming in its library, American Public Television (APT) has been a prime source of programming for the nation's public television stations for 47 years, distributing more than 300 new program titles per year. APT milestones include distribution of the first HD series on public television and the 2006 launch of Create™ – the TV channel featuring the best of public television's lifestyle programming. Known for its leadership in identifying innovative, worthwhile and viewer-friendly programming, APT has established a tradition of providing public television stations with program choices that strengthen and customize their schedules, such as Carreras Domingo Pavarotti in Concert, Battlefield Britain, Globe Trekker, Rick Steves' Europe, Great Museums, Jacques Pépin: Fast Food My Way, America's Test Kitchen From Cook's Illustrated, Broadway: The Golden Age, Lidia's Family Table, California Dreamin' – The Songs of The Mamas & the Papas, Rosemary and Thyme, P. Allen Smith's Garden Home, The Big Comfy Couch, Monarchy With David Starkey, and other prominent documentaries, dramatic series, how-to programs, children's series and classic movies. For more information about APT's programs and services, visit APTonline.org.

The James Beard Foundation
Established in 1966 and dedicated to late cooking expert James Beard, the foundation works to preserve the art of cooking and preparing food through tastings, lectures, and educational opportunities for students. More than 60 awards given out in categories such as cookbooks and journalism have made the awards the highest recognition in the culinary industry.

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