St. John's Hospitality Group's Chef Daniel Lindley will be the featured chef at a special dinner at the James Beard House, on Dec. 28.

Chef Lindley will cook for members of the James Beard Foundation and the public at the historic Greenwich Village home where Mr. Beard lived, taught and cooked for friends and colleagues.

"I am thrilled to confirm [Chef Lindley's] participation in a very special dinner featuring St. John's Restaurant," said Izabela Wojcik of the James Beard Foundation. "We are honored to welcome him into James Beard's kitchen."

"St. John's Restaurant has always been about creating exceptional dining experiences, and James Beard was a major player in shaping American dining culture at its finest," said Chef Lindley. "His work has given birth to conferences, tastings, lectures and scholarship programs that teach thousands of people about food and its centrality in modern life and health. I am honored to be cooking in his home."

Chef Lindley began his work at St. John's Restaurant and St. John's Meeting Place a decade ago; last year he opened Alleia, an Italian-inspired restaurant in the city's Southside. As a pioneer of using food from local farms and raising culinary standards in Chattanooga, his menus are known throughout the area for the best ingredients and food preparation.

For the event, the restaurant has teamed up with Bratcher Winery, known for producing exceptional wines at premium values from some of the top vineyards in Santa Barbara county, the Santa Maria Valley and Santa Rita Hills. Chris Bratcher, owner of Chattanooga's Riverside Wine & Spirits, partners with California vineyards with a focus on viniculture, small run production and minimal handling of the fruit and wine.

"The event is limited to 80 guests, many of whom will be members of the Beard Foundation," said Chef Lindley. "But we would love to see Chattanooga represented at the table. Locals can purchase tickets at Foundation member prices, as guests of St. John's Restaurant, by calling 212.627-2308 and using the code word 'thyme.'"

The dinner, which will be in the James Beard Home at 167 West 12th St., New York City, begins with a reception at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 28. Tickets at Foundation member's prices are $130. The event will help raise funds for the Foundation's educational programs, conferences, children's programs, scholarship opportunities for culinary students, and more.

The James Beard Foundation was founded to celebrate, preserve and nurture America's culinary heritage and diversity, in order to elevate the appreciation of our culinary excellence. The Foundation administers educational initiatives, food industry awards, scholarships and publications. http://jamesbeard.org 



St. John's Hospitality Group is made up of three restaurants in Chattanooga. St. John's Restaurant offers fine dining; St. John's Meeting Place brings excellent flavors in a more casual atmosphere; Alleia feature a wood-fired pizzas and house made pastas. Each restaurant furthers Chef Daniel Lindley's commitment to creating a menu-driven experience that features top quality ingredients, customer service, and food preparation unsurpassed in the region. http://stjohnsrestaurant.com