Celebrity Chefs and Culinary Stars to Attend 2007 James Beard Foundation Awards Gala on May 7

Over 1600 of the nation's top culinary professionals will attend the 2007 James Beard Foundation Awards, known as the "Oscars" of the food world and hosted by Hannah Storm of CBS ' The Early Show at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall in New York City on Monday, May 7th.

Confirmed attendees include: Martha Stewart, Katie Lee Joel, Stephanie March, Padma Lakshmi, Ted Allen, Wolfgang Puck, Bobby Flay, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Tom Colicchio, Thomas Keller, Alfred Portale, Todd English, Daniel Boulud, Jacques Pépin, Eric Ripert, Danny Meyer and Terrance Brennan.

The James Beard Foundation Awards are the premier honors for food and beverage professionals across North America. More than 60 national and regional awards will be presented in categories that include Best New Restaurant, Outstanding Restaurateur, Rising Star Chef, Cookbook of the Year and Outstanding Restaurant Design.

For more information, and to learn the names of winners, posted during the Monday evening event, please visit: www.jamesbeard.org