Historic Grand Central Oyster Bar to Receive Design Icon Award from James Beard Foundation

New York?The James Beard Foundation, which celebrates America-s culinary heritage, will present its second annual Design Icon Award to New York City-s historic Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant. The Four Seasons Restaurant in New York received the inaugural award last year. "We are proud of the grand history of the Grand Central Oyster Bar, and it will be our privilege to accept the Design Icon Award from the James Beard Foundation. The Rafael Guastavino Moreno-designed ceilings which were recently restored are part of the fabric of New York, and the historic appeal of the Oyster Bar," said the Oyster Bar's management team: President Janet Poccia, Vice President Mohammed Lawal, executive chef Sandy Ingber and General Manager Frank Botta. First opened in 1913 in unison with the launch of Grand Central Terminal, the Oyster Bar celebrated its 100th birthday in 2013, and completed a historic renovation the following year. At that time, the landmarked, arch-tiled ceilings by Guastavino were restored throughout the restaurant, while its 200-seat dining room, lounge, counters, Saloon and expansive kitchen area were refurbished. The 2017 James Beard Awards Gala, hosted by Jesse Tyler Ferguson of ABC's award-winning Modern Family, will take place on Monday, May 1, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. The 2017 Media Awards (formerly known as the Book, Broadcast & Journalism Awards) will be hosted by JBF Award winner Andrew Zimmern and held on Tuesday, April 25, at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in New York City.