Mallary is currently a student at Johnson and Wales University where she is attending to obtain a bachelor’s degree in culinary arts and food service management, thanks to the help of the Bern Laxer Memorial Scholarship fund.

Some of the great restaurant entrepreneurs are showboaters, using brash self-confidence as the path to legendary hospitality.

BT Nguyen leaned over the first plate, spreading bits of hearts of palm, mango, celery and sweet pepper on the plate, topping that with a ripe wedge of avocado and gently poached lobster, finishing the dish with a confetti of micro-herbs and passion fruit vinaigrette.

Twenty-six all-star chefs made dinner as the James Beard Foundation (home of the food world’s Oscars) joined with the Bern Laxer Memorial Scholarship to sponsor an unprecedented gastronomic blowout.

This just might be the dinner of the year. The Bern’s family of restaurants has organized a James Beard Foundation fundraiser to fund the Bern Laxer Memorial Scholarship for culinary students in the state of Florida for a number of years.