Ken Friedman is Every English Major’s Hero

Last night were the James Beard Awards for 2016. It was hosted by Carla Hall, and honored the best culinary talent throughout the country. But there was one moment that will forever out in my mind, that allowed me to sleep soundly last night, knowing that someone, somewhere was watching out for me. That someone is one Ken Friedman, of The Spotted Pig, The Breslin, and Tosca Café.

Let’s go back. “Restaurateur” is a word that gets used a lot at a ceremony like this. And it’s one of those words that no one knows how to pronounce. Except, you would think, the people who have to say it all the time. Not so. After listening to hours and hours of “restauraNteur,” I could take no more. If I had a supercut of every time someone said “restauraNteur” throughout the night it would be, I estimate, 92.5 minutes long. I finally said to my fiancé, sitting on the couch, “THAT’S NOT A WORD.” He said, “do you think maybe you’re wrong?” No. I wasn’t wrong. And I wasn’t about to start doubting myself.

That’s when Ken Friedman took the stage to accept the award for Outstanding Restaurateur. He said his thank yous, and before he exited the stage he gave us one more gem:

“Remember, there’s no N in restaurateur.”

KEN FRIEDMAN IS ALL OF US.

[image via Instagram]

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