Comfort, Whisked In
The Queen of Cake finds her rightful place in the James Beard Foundation legacy.
Some honors arrive with fanfare—flashes of applause and the sharp clink of cutlery against glass. Others—like this one—begin in quiet disbelief. Rose Levy Beranbaum was in the car with her husband, Woody, when her phone rang. On the other end was the James Beard Foundation, telling her she would be inducted into the Cookbook Hall of Fame.
The only catch: she couldn’t tell a soul.
Photo courtesy of James Beard Foundation/Galdones Photography
Two weeks passed in silence. She tucked the news away, like a perfect sponge left to cool—half-afraid it might sink if she breathed too hard. These things are fiercely competitive, and the company she keeps is exceptional. But the moment wasn’t just about achievement—it was recognition of a lifetime spent teaching us how to weigh, sift, temper, and trust our way through flour, butter, and sugar.
On the night of the ceremony in Chicago, she stood not just as a recipient but as a presenter—graceful, poised, utterly herself. The room—filled with familiar faces, colleagues-turned-friends—felt electric, a gathering stirred by affection and admiration. “Whirling with beautiful things,” she said, and somehow that described more than just the atmosphere—it captured the spirit of the event.
Photo courtesy of James Beard Foundation/Galdones Photography
She cried when she first heard the news—not for the medal, but for the moment it brought back. Years ago, she studied with James Beard himself. At the time, she worked with Reynolds Metals Company, handing out foil and cling wrap to the class. For Beard, she offered a lifetime supply. It was warm and witty and unmistakably Rose.
This award didn’t just honor a career. It recognized the authority, generosity, patient instruction, and insatiable curiosity that fill the pages of her books. Her recipes don’t just teach—they steady you.
It should have happened long ago. But now it has. And like all good things that take their time, it feels just right.
Join us in honoring Rose’s Cookbook Hall of Fame induction—try the recipe for her legendary Whipped Cream Cake, or experience her craft firsthand by watching her recent Baking School feature, where she masterfully creates her Chocolate Domingo crowned with Wicked Good Ganache.
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