Introducing the 2009 Seattle Weekly Food Awards

Our food section is usually devoted to writing about the highs and lows of individual restaurants. But restaurants are just a part of the way we eat and drink in Seattle. This year, the third annual Seattle Weekly Food Awards honor several cooks, ranchers, writers, and teachers who have greatly contributed to the vibrancy of our local food. The awards:

Innovation Award: Honoring culinary creativity and daring that inspire the continued evolution of the Puget Sound dining scene.

Sustainability Award: Honoring major contributions to sustainable agriculture and environmentally responsible food production in the Puget Sound area.

Pellegrini Award: Honoring a person in the Puget Sound area who has fostered what the late Seattle writer Angelo Pellegrini called "the good life": food, wine, community, and the culture of the table. This award is presented in cooperation with the Pellegrini Foundation.

The awards were presented this past Monday evening at a cocktail reception at Il Bistro, the classic Pike Place Market restaurant. To learn more about the award winners, as well as Angelo Pellegrini and the Pellegrini Award judging committee, visit the Weekly's food blog at www.seattleweekly.com/voracious.