The food team is delighted to share the news that at the Association of Food Journalists gathering in New Orleans last week, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette won a first-place award for "Best Newspaper Food Coverage" in one of two circulation-size categories. The Omaha World-Herald and The Journal News of White Plains, N.Y., won second and third places, respectively. The winner in the larger-papers category is the San Francisco Chronicle, followed by the Washington Post and the Chicago Tribune.

The awards banquet was held at August, the flagship restaurant of chef John Besh, who wowed some 60 food writers and editors with a menu that included a Rabbit Boudin (rice sausage) appetizer; Louisiana White Shrimp "Carpaccio"; a Roasted Quail Pho (Vietnamese soup) with pumpkin agnolotti (dumplings) and porcini; Slow Cooked Venison (with McEwens grits, elderberries and graine de paradis); and Brown Butter Quince Tarte with a caramel gelato.

Full contest results can be found at afjonline.com.

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