Tom Colicchio Tastes Victory as Real Top Chef

Bravo host wins the top prize at the Food Oscars, aka the James Beard Foundation Awards

Talk about truth in advertising.

Tom Colicchio was named the top chef in the country last night when the culinary braintrust that is the James Beard Foundation handed out its coveted annual awards. The foodie Oscars saluted the Bravo host as a chef "whose career has set national industry standards and who has served as an inspiration to other food professionals."

Putting them on the chopping block, spitting out their inedible dishes and dashing their hopes and dreams on national TV was not a requirement. But it probably helped.

Colicchio has been a cheftestant finalist for the award seven previous times, starting in 2002. Congrats!