JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION'S RESTAURANT & CHEF AWARDS

Live Events & Production
Food & Bev

Role

  • Restaurant concept development & launch strategy
  • Steps of Service design & hospitality training
  • Guest journey mapping & touchpoint evaluation
  • Restaurant Operations & Systems Building
  • Brand identity, positioning & storytelling
  • Community building & cultural partnerships
  • Content strategy for hospitality & lifestyle brands
My work with the James Beard Foundation spans multiple cornerstone events for one of the most influential organizations in the culinary world. Each year I serve as lead producer for the prestigious Restaurant and Chef Awards in Chicago, often called the “Oscars of the Food World.” In this role I manage the culinary program for the Media Awards and produce the Restaurant and Chef Awards after party at Union Station, a complex one-day build and tear down in the historic main hall that requires seamless coordination between chefs, union crews, sponsors, and VIP stakeholders.


Beyond the national stage, I also produce the Foundation’s Taste America fundraising tour stop in Portland each year.
This event brings together local chefs and food lovers to celebrate the culinary community while raising funds to support the Foundation’s mission. From curating the chef lineup and crafting the guest journey to overseeing event logistics and fundraising goals, my role is to ensure the Portland stop reflects both the city’s food culture and the Foundation’s national brand excellence.


Together, these projects demonstrate my ability to lead at the highest levels of culinary and hospitality production, balancing logistics with storytelling, local flavor with national vision, and operational rigor with the celebratory spirit that defines James Beard Foundation events.

Photography for Taste America Gado Gado & Kann Events : One Haus Creative

Role

  • End-to-End Event production
  • Project Management
  • Experiential strategy
  • Creative concepting
  • Sponsorship strategy, activation & fulfillment
A large crowd gathers at an elegant event in a grand hall with arched windows, ornate columns, and a high, curved ceiling, warmly lit with gold accents and decorative displays.A crowd of people in formal wear gather around a counter at a lively indoor event, where a woman in dark clothing serves food. There are flower arrangements and plates of cheese on the counter.
Rows of small cupcakes in wooden dishes, each topped with white icing and a garnish of dried red fruit, displayed on a dark surface.A large pillar stands in the center of a grand hall filled with people attending the 2025 James Beard Awards. Light projections display “35” and event details on the walls above food and sponsor booths.
A large wedge of crumbled cheese sits on a wooden board next to an open tin of Calvisius caviar on ice. A person in a black suit stands behind the table.A gold marquee sign attached to a building reads, “James Beard Awards – 35 Yrs Celebrating Excellence.” The background shows tall windows and ornate architectural details.
A bartender pours drinks into coupe glasses lined up on a bar, surrounded by warm lighting and blurred people in the background, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.A smiling woman in a shiny red dress holds up a round silver medallion with a face engraved on it. Several people in formal attire stand blurred in the background.
Two bartenders in matching blue vests and ties stand behind a bar lined with empty wine glasses. Above them, bright lights hang and a sign reads 2025 James Beard Awards in the background.Two men warmly hug at an indoor event. One wears a white chef’s coat and apron, the other wears glasses and a white blazer. People and event booths are in the background.
TASTE AMERICA—GADO GADO
A restaurant entrance at night with bright pink neon signs, including GADO GADO above the door and a glowing crab below. Two people stand inside near the glass entrance, and a red car is parked outside.Two people seated at a table share a plate of flatbread; one holds a piece of bread, and the other holds a glass of red wine. A bowl of yellow rice and floral china plate are also visible on the wooden table.Three vintage-style plates surround a pink event program titled Taste Portland on a pink and orange checkered tablecloth, with a small lit candle in a glass holder nearby.
A table set on a pink checkered tablecloth with blue flowers, featuring plates, glasses, gray napkins, rolled menus tied with blue ribbon, and booklets labeled Take Portland.A plate of Indonesian-style noodles topped with peanut sauce, crispy fried shallots, tofu cubes, and a drizzle of sweet soy sauce on a decorative white and blue plate.
Six round, crispy snacks garnished with herbs are served on a decorative floral plate. A pink glass with a lit candle and a napkin on a plate are visible in the background on a wooden table.A cream-colored cloth with the words Open for Good printed on it is tied with a navy ribbon and placed on a vibrant, floral-patterned surface in blue, orange, and yellow tones.A group of people sits at wooden booths in a cozy restaurant, some looking at their phones, others talking. Wine glasses and plates are on the tables. The window shows reflections of street lights outside.
TASTE AMERICA—KANN
A black-framed glass door entrance to a building labeled Kann with a large peach-colored Taste America event sign listing sponsors like Capital One, American Airlines, and Deloitte, surrounded by potted plants.Two men stand and smile in a modern kitchen. One wears glasses, a T-shirt, and an apron, while the other is dressed in a suit. They appear to be enjoying a light-hearted conversation.
A modern restaurant interior with round tables set for dining, gold utensils, glasses, navy blue napkins, and orange menus. Light wooden chairs and a large abstract painting with orange and blue gradients hang on the wall.A beige tote bag with “Taste America” printed on it sits on a table alongside a blue plate, a gold fork, an event booklet, and a blue card that reads EAT-Q TRIVIA.
Three people stand indoors clapping and smiling; two women in aprons are in the foreground, and a man in a suit is in the background. Shelves with glasses and bottles are visible behind them.A vibrant dish with shredded meat in a creamy sauce, topped with cherry tomatoes, fresh herbs, and edible flowers, served with crispy, speckled chips on a green ceramic plate.
A glossy chocolate dessert topped with coarse sea salt sits on a pink plate beside a scoop of vanilla ice cream.A modern restaurant dining area with round tables set with gold cutlery, glasses, and menus. Neutral chairs and a light gray bench line the wall, which features a large abstract art piece in orange, pink, and blue tones.
A chef in a blue shirt and glasses carefully places chocolate desserts on pink plates in a busy, modern restaurant kitchen, with several people seated in the background.A group of people sit at a long table in a restaurant, eating and drinking together. Decorative wooden shelves with stacked logs and hanging lights are in the background. The atmosphere appears warm and social.Several tall champagne glasses filled with a yellow cocktail and crushed ice are lined up on a bar counter, while hands garnish the drinks with tongs. The background shows a softly lit indoor setting.
Dear Heather Wallberg is about designing experiences that make people feel welcome. Informed by hospitality and real-world practice, the work is shaped by what guests experience from the first hello to the last goodbye.

Select Clients

James Beard AwardsAbigail Hall High TeaGabbianosTake TwoAngela Vineyards
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