It was a foodie's paradise: James Beard nominees and winners, cookbook authors and Michelin-star chefs gathered together for a night of dining and drinking.

The night before the James Beard awards, this was the time for the chefs to let loose, have a cocktail and get rid of all those pre-award jitters.

Held at New York City's Chelsea Market, Chefs' Night Out featured music, Negroni cocktails and bites from the market's vendors.

The event started at 10 p.m. Sunday, a time when most of us are winding down, turning off the television and heading to sleep.

                                                                                       (Image Credit: Courtesy Gabi Porter)

But life in the restaurant world is just starting at 10 p.m., with most chefs like Thomas Keller, Michael Chiarello and Andrew Zimmern trickling in after 11 p.m.

They dined on delicious comfort foods such as gelato from L'Arte del Gelato, macaroni and cheese from the Green Table and lobster bisque from the Lobster Place.

Fatwitch Bakery brownies and bites of Amy's Bread were the perfect casual accompaniments to a night of laid-back fun before the chefs donned tuxedos and dresses for the big awards ceremony the next day.