Q & A with Susan Ungaro
With the 2008 James Beard Awards on the imminent horizon, we thought it would be an opportune time to check in with the foundation's newest president, Susan Ungaro. Though Kim Cattrall from Sex and the City will dropping in to host the awards ceremony on June 8th, another woman runs the illustrious show year-round. For twelve years, Ms. Ungaro served as the editor in chief for the award-winning women's magazine, Family Circle. An award winner herself, she has earned particular notice for her work from the William Paterson Legacy Awards and president Reagan's Office of Consumer Affairs. Since having accepted the position of president at the James Beard Foundation two years ago, Ungaro has significantly revived its reputation and scholarship program. Under her supervision, the James Beard's Greenwich Village townhouse has become a dynamic and prominent hub for over 200 visiting chefs, where New Yorkers have the unique opportunity to sample the cooking of chefs from all over the world.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
My mom recently gave me an autobiographical essay I wrote when I was twelve. I was surprised to see that I wanted to be a nun and a comedian until I realized that The Flying Nun was a popular and funny TV show back then. No, I didn’t dream of running a foundation when I was younger. I did win the Betty Crocker Award in High School and worked my way through college at McDonald’s where I started an employee newsletter for the franchise. So I certainly know what it’s like to sweat over a grill and manage customer service. When I graduated from college, I ended up working at Family Circle magazine for over two decades and spent many days deciding on the best article ideas, photos and cover lines for food and diet stories. Will a chocolate cupcake outsell an apple pie? (The answer is yes!) So in many ways, my previous experiences are helping me run the James Beard Foundation.
What excites you most about the world of food?
Every day something new is happening. Whether it is the opportunity to taste a visiting chef’s imaginative way with something as simple as sorbet or learning about the latest news in the constant churn of the restaurant world. I am also totally inspired by the great good will and extraordinary creative talents of chefs, restaurateurs and winemakers today. They are not only true artists, but they are also very giving people.
How did you become involved with the James Beard Foundation?
As editor of Family Circle, I certainly understood the power of winning a James Beard Award and appreciated Beard’s legacy as the godfather of American Cookery. Little did I imagine that after leaving the world of publishing that I would be approached to head up this amazing organization. Barbara Fairchild, editor of Bon Appetit, was a colleague who had judged the magazine world’s ASME Awards with me numerous times. When she heard that I was interested in running a foundation after leaving Family Circle, she recommended me. And the rest, as they say, is history.
As president of the JBF, what have been your most rewarding moments?
Presenting the 2007 JBF Awards at Lincoln Center! The staff and I are incredibly proud of the fact that we successfully moved our Gala Awards to Avery Fisher Hall last year and debuted our Media Awards at the Hudson Theater. It was a gutsy move but one we felt was right for what are clearly considered the “Oscars” of the food and media industry. We are totally psyched for 2008 and so are all the nominees.
What has changed since you became president?
I’d like to think that we’ve taken what was clearly a diamond of the food world and just polished it and reset it to make the next 20 years even brighter. As many visitors to the Beard House know, we redecorated the place and improved the experience for both visiting chefs and dinner guests, created some new programs like Beard on Books which brings authors to the Beard House at least once a month, redesigned our website and re-energized our scholarship program. We’re very proud of the fact that since 2001, we’ve awarded over $1.7 million in scholarships to deserving high school students and mid-life career-changers.
Is there an international JBF presence?...
Is there an international JBF presence?
I am constantly amazed at the wide reach of our little
Foundation! When chefs from all over the world come to New York, they
often visit us and some very special ones even come to cook a
fundraising dinner! It was a thrill for many of us, when in 2006, some
of the greatest chefs from Spain, including Ferran Adria, headlined a
fundraiser for us. And on November 8, 2007, we declared New York
“Truffle City” when chefs from the greatest truffle towns of Italy
created a gala dinner here to benefit the Foundation.
How can one become involved with the James Beard Foundation?
I
think we are still the best kept secret in New York. Over 200 days a
year at the Beard House, a chef from somewhere across America is
creating the absolute best of his or her craft for a meal diners won’t
forget. You don’t have to be a member to come to dinner, but by joining
the Foundation, you do get a discount rate for your reservation. A five
course dinner with wine pairings preceded by hors d’oeuvres generally
costs $125 for members but $155 for non-members.
What is your junk food of choice?
I have a weak spot
for all kinds of versions of peanut butter cup ice cream and
practically anything chocolate! (But I tell myself that if there’s some
dairy in it, it’s not really junk food.)
What’s in store for us at the James Beard House in the spring?
We’ve
got a great line-up of dinners and Beard on Books series. And, of
course, our biggest event is our Awards on June 8th at Lincoln Center.
Bobby Flay and Kim Cattrell are our hosts and most of our food world’s
culinary stars will be there. So should you!
Will you be trying to get the next generation of foodies to participate in events?
Absolutely.
As the mother of three, I can tell you that today’s kids and young
adults are hungry for great food experiences. They’re cooking with
their friends and parents and they’re watching all the new TV shows. I
know my children and their friends consider today’s media chefs some of
the most likeable celebrities around. And that’s a very good thing for
all of us.
Anyone who has a passion for food and the culinary arts can become a member. Check out our website at www.jamesbeard.org for more details.
Can you give me some fun NYC restaurants
geared towards young kids....5yr+? thanks.
Posted by: donna | May 22, 2008 at 10:50 AM
Great interview. I hope she has outstanding administrative skills, because she does not sound particularly interested in food -- how much do you want to bet she can't cook -- or even order well...
Posted by: michele | May 22, 2008 at 12:34 AM