Best of the Valley Honored at Annual Restaurant Gala
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 27, 2008
Fresno, Calif. – More than 25 Fresno-area restaurants received prestigious honors last night at the California Restaurant Association (CRA) Fresno chapter’s annual Best of the Valley restaurant awards banquet, which took place at the Fresno Convention Center. The annual Best of the Valley awards banquet is the largest event of the year for the restaurant community and honors the best of the best in the area.
“Because these winners are nominated, and then voted upon by their colleagues in the restaurant industry, the ‘best of’ awards are considered a huge honor by those who receive them,” said CRA Fresno chapter President Kelly Allred of Dynaco, Inc. “This annual event is a wonderful opportunity to recognize those in the industry that stand out.”
The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the prestigious Fresno Chapter Lifetime Achievement Award, which was given to Vito Guido of the Elbow Room, recognizing the self-described “go-getter” for his years of service to the industry. From his time as a bartender at the very popular Hi Life bar to his purchase of the Elbow Room with his wife Lee, Guido was always a welcoming face. Today, the retired restaurateur lives on the coast and celebrates this honor with his late-wife Lee, who was his greatest partner in business and in life.
In addition to Guido’s award, the CRA’s Fresno chapter presented awards to various restaurants, declaring them 2007’s “best” in categories ranging from “Best Breakfast,” to “Most Romantic Restaurant,” to “Best Fine Dining.”
All Best of the Valley winners were selected based on the results of a balloting process that is managed every year by the accounting firm of Ryan, Christie, Quinn and Horn. Nomination ballots were mailed to approximately 1,400 restaurants in Fresno and Madera counties.
The accounting firm then collected the ballots, and the top four vote-getters in each category were placed on the final ballot. Final ballots were mailed to all local CRA members as well as all non-member nominees.
A complete list of this year’s Best of the Valley award winners is provided below. For additional information on the event or for information on other CRA Fresno chapter events, please visit our Web site at www.calrest.org.
2007 BEST OF THE VALLEY RESTAURANT AWARD WINNERS:
Best Breakfast – Mimi’s Café
Best Themed Restaurant – Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
Best Fast Food/Drive-Thru – Rally’s Hamburgers
Best Fast Casual Restaurant – Piazza del Pane Italian Café
Best Asian Restaurant – Dai Bai Dang Asian Street Café
Best Mexican Restaurant – Sal’s Mexican Restaurants
Best Family Dining – Plaza Ventana Mexican Restaurants
Best Fine Dining – The Ripe Tomato
Best Pizza – Mike’s Pizzeria
Best Italian Restaurant – Parma Restaurant
Best Newcomer – Pangea Restaurant
Best Kept Secret – Cracked Pepper Bistro
Friendliest Service – BJ’s Kountry Kitchen
Best Watering Hole – Pangea Restaurant
Most Romantic Restaurant – The Palms
Best Seafood – Wassabi
Best Steak – The Lime Lite
Best Banquet – Grand Occasions Banquets and Catering
Best Catering – Pardini’s Catering & Banquets
Best Burger – In-N-Out Burger
Best Mediterranean Restaurant – George’s
Best Delicatessen – Piemonte’s Italian Delicatessen
Best Hotel Dining – Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino
Best Country Club Dining – Fort Washington Golf & Country Club
Best Bakery – Eddie’s Bakery Cafe
Best Casino Dining – Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino
Beverage Purveyor/Supplier of the Year – Southern Wine & Spirits of Northern California
Purveyor/Supplier of the Year – Saladino’s Foodservice
Restaurateur of the Year – Tony Sciola, Campagnia
