Stamp of approval

The U.S. Postal Service is honoring five influential chefs in a new series of postage stamps. The Celebrity Chefs series recognizes icons like teacher and author James Beard, whose stamp is now available for pre-order (it will be officially released September 26). According to the U.S.P.S. website, these chefs “invited us to feast on regional and international flavors and were early but ardent champions of trends that many foodies now take for granted. As they shared their know-how, they encouraged us to undertake our own culinary adventures.”

The stamps feature illustrations designed by Greg Breeding in a style meant to resemble oil paintings. Jason Seiler created the art for the James Beard. The design of the selvage represents “a white china plate resting on a fine linen tablecloth.”

Although the U.S.P.S. website is mum about the other four chefs in the series, Eater reports that they are “Chinese food champion Joyce Chen, legendary cookbook author Julia Child, Southern cooking ambassador Edna Lewis, and South American chef Felipe Rojas-Lombardi.” The Postal Service is on a food-themed roll,  as they released a series of farmers’ market stamps in August.

What do you think about the Postal Service’s choices? Who else would you like to see honored on a stamp?