He has also given talks at the TED Conference. He has also been appointed by President Obama to serve on the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition. He also serves on the Advisory Board to the Harvard Medical School for Health and the Global Environment. In 2002, Barber was named one of the Best New Chefs by Food & Wine Magazine. 

He has also received the 2006 Best Chef: New York City and 2009 Top Chef: Outstanding chef and top chef in America from the James Beard Foundation. In addition to his monumental success in 2009, Time Magazine awarded Barber with one of the world’s most influential people in their annual Time 100. The Blue Hill has been recognized as one of US’s Top 40 Restaurants by GAYOT.com.