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From left: Ben Pollinger, executive chef of Oceana in New York City; James Liao; Belinda Chang, wine director of The Modern in New York; and Jansen Chan, executive pastry chef of Oceana.

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New York chefs Franklin Becker, executive chef of Abe & Arthur’s (left), and Julian Alonzo, executive chef of Brasserie 8 ½

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New Orleans restaurateur Lally Brennan (left) and Tory McPhail, executive chef of Commander’s Palace

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David Waltuck (left), executive chef of New York-based Ark Restaurants, and Angela Pinkerton, executive pastry chef at Eleven Madison Park in New York

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Joe Campanale, co-owner and beverage director of Dell'Anima, L'Artusi and Anfora, all in New York, celebrates Mother’s Day at Chefs’ Night Out with his mother, Karen Campanale

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Gary Danko, left, chef-owner of Restaurant Gary Danko in San Francisco, with Emerald Yeh, chair of the James Beard Foundation Broadcast awards, and her husband Ron Blatman

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Sheep brain, with a side of smoked lemon gremolata, was served out of sheep head at Dickson’s Farmstead Meats

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David Posey, chef de cuisine of Blackbird in Chicago, with Curtis Duffy, chef de cuisine of Avenues, also in Chicago

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Latest coverage: The James Beard Foundation Awards were in full swing Monday night at a black-tie affair Monday in New York City.

Check out coverage

Find all the winners on the James Beard 'Awards Watch' blog

Follow NRN's Bret Thorn on his blog and through Twitter

Before the show, chefs and members of the food media from across the country descended on New York City in anticipation of the for the James Beard Foundation Awards Monday night.

Before that, however, attendees blew off some steam at the annual Chefs Night Out on Sunday.

Beginning at 10 p.m., as local chefs were winding down from their dinner shifts, Chelsea Market opened its doors and partygoers sampled local fare, including clam chowder and lobster bisque, cookies and gelato and at least three varieties of pork, not to mention sheep brain served out of actual sheep heads.

But Chefs Night Out is less about food and more about old friends meeting up and socializing before Monday’s big black tie gala at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall.

See photos from Sunday’s event.

Visit NRN.com Tuesday for coverage of the James Beard Awards, including all the winners. In the meantime, check out senior food editor Bret Thorn’s predictions for which restaurants and chefs will be taking home awards.

Contact Bret Thorn at bret.thorn@penton.com.