Stella Artois Sponsors Renowned James Beard Foundation Awards

Belgian Beer Continues Support of Culinary Arts, Reaching Influential Chefs and Culinary Media

ST. LOUIS (April 30, 2009) – Continuing its commitment to the culinary world, Stella Artois is the official beer sponsor of the 2009 James Beard Foundation Media Awards, Awards Ceremony and Gala Reception being held May 3-4 in New York City.

Deemed “the Oscars of the food world” by Time magazine, the James Beard Foundation Awards are the country’s most coveted honor for chefs; food and beverage professionals; broadcast media, journalists, and authors writing about food and beverage; and restaurant architects and designers.

“Sponsoring the James Beard Foundation Awards allows us to reach the finest chefs and most influential culinary media in the world with a clear message that our Belgian beers can elevate the finest dining experience,” said Paul Byrne, product manager, Belgian brands.  “Throughout the various award dinners and receptions, guests can visit our Belgian Beer Café to learn firsthand about Stella Artois, Hoegaarden and Leffe and why these beers are a natural fit for the culinary world.”

Co-hosted by Iron Chef Cat Cora, James Beard Foundation Award winner Emeril Lagasse and award-winning actor Stanley Tucci, the James Beard Foundation Awards will shine a spotlight on the best and brightest talent in the country’s food and beverage industry.  The Journalism and Broadcast Media awards will be presented at the annual Media Awards dinner, taking place this year on Sunday, May 3 at the Hudson Theatre in midtown Manhattan, while the Restaurant & Chef, Book, Design & Graphics and a number of special achievement awards will be presented at the annual Awards Ceremony on Monday, May 4 at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center.

“We are so thrilled to have Stella Artois as the official beer sponsor of this year’s James Beard Foundation Awards festivities,” said Susan Ungaro, President of the James Beard Foundation.  “The Foundation’s mission has always been to celebrate, preserve and nurture our nation’s culinary heritage and diversity, and we believe Stella Artois’ dedication to quality and craftsmanship makes them a wonderful fit for the Awards.”

Stella Artois traces its origin back to 1366 to a brewery called Den Hoorn, located in Leuven, a town just outside of Brussels.  In 1717, master brewer Sebastian Artois purchased the brewery and renamed it to his namesake.  The Artois Brewery created a special brew to celebrate Christmas and named it Stella (Latin for star) for its exceptional clarity.  Today, Stella Artois is the gold standard for Belgian lagers with its distinctive flavor and spicy hop character.

Based in St. Louis, Anheuser‑Busch is the leading American brewer, holding a 49.2 percent share of U.S. beer sales.  The company brews the world’s largest-selling beers, Budweiser and Bud Light.  Anheuser‑Busch also owns a 50 percent share in Grupo Modelo, Mexico’s leading brewer.  Anheuser-Busch ranked No. 1 among beverage companies in FORTUNE Magazine’s Most Admired Global Companies list in 2009.  Anheuser‑Busch is one of the largest theme park operators in the United States, is a major manufacturer of aluminum cans and one of the world’s largest recyclers of aluminum cans.  The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev, the leading global brewer, and continues to operate under the Anheuser-Busch name and logo.  For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com.

About the James Beard Foundation

The James Beard Foundation is dedicated to celebrating, preserving, and nurturing America’s culinary heritage and diversity in order to elevate the appreciation of our culinary excellence.  A cookbook author and teacher with an encyclopedic knowledge about food, James Beard, who died in 1985, was a champion of American cuisine.  He helped educate and mentor generations of professional chefs and food enthusiasts.  Today, the Beard Foundation continues in the same spirit by administering a number of diverse programs that include educational initiatives, food industry awards, scholarships to culinary schools, and publications, and by maintaining the historic James Beard House in New York City’s Greenwich Village as a performance space for visiting chefs.  For more information, please visit www.jamesbeard.org.