California Restaurant Association San Diego County Chapter Announces Winners

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 8, 2008 

San Diego, Calif. – The 24th Annual Gold Medallion Awards Banquet and Auction held on April 30, 2008 recognized San Diego’s culinary excellence and prestige. In addition to honoring San Diego’s ‘best of the best,’ a total of $54,000 was raised during the auction portion of the evening, which will be used by the chapter’s Education Committee to fund local San Diego high school culinary arts and other education programs.

The California Restaurant Association’s San Diego County chapter was proud to honor the following winners:

· Restaurateur of the Year: Lehn Goetz of Café Coyote
· Chef of the Year: Carl Schroeder of MARKET Restaurant & Bar
· People's Choice: The Marine Room
· Best Asian Restaurant: P.F. Chang's China Bistro
· Best Italian Fine Dining Restaurant: Trattoria Acqua
· Best Hotel Restaurant – Casual: The Grill at The Lodge
· Best Ethnic Restaurant: Indigo Grill
· Best Fusion Restaurant: Red Pearl Kitchen
· Best Italian Casual Restaurant: Lotsa Pasta
· Best Sushi Bar: Taka Restaurant
· Best American Restaurant: Dakota Grill & Spirits
· Best Breakfast: Café 222
· Best French Casual Restaurant: Café Chloe
· Best Live Music Venue/Restaurant: Anthology
· Best Modern American Restaurant: Bertrand at Mr. A's
· Best New Restaurant: Jade Theater
· Best Pub/Bar: The Waterfront
· Best Quick Service Restaurant: Anthony's Fishette
· Best Seafood Fine Dining Restaurant: Oceanaire Seafood Room
· Best Steakhouse Casual Restaurant: The Gaslamp Strip Club
· Best Steakhouse Fine Dining Restaurant: Island Prime
· Best Mexican Casual Restaurant: Old Town Mexican Café
· Best Mexican Dinner House: Café Coyote
· Best Pacific Rim Restaurant: Bali Hai Restaurant
· Best BBQ: Phil's BBQ
· Best Hotel Restaurant - Fine Dining: JRDN Restaurant at Tower 23
· Best Sports Bar/Restaurant: Moondoggies
· Best Burger: In-N-Out
· Best Casino: Barona Valley Ranch Resort & Casino
· Best French Fine Dining Restaurant: Mille Fleurs Restaurant
· Best Seafood Casual Restaurant: Pacifica Del Mar
· Best Wine Bar: The Wine Lover
· Best Family Style Restaurant: Corvette Diner
· Best Neighborhood Restaurant: Kensington Grill
· Best Bakery/Café: Bread & Cie
· Best Caterer: Urban Kitchen Catering
· Best Pizza: Sammy's Woodfired Pizza
· Best Brewery: Karl Strauss Brewing Company
· Best Sunday Brunch: Crown Room at the Hotel Del Coronado 

The Gold Medallion Awards Banquet and Auctions annually raise tens of thousands of dollars vital to San Diego culinary arts programs, providing the high schools with equipment, small ware, food handlers cards, etc. as well as the opportunity for students to increase their knowledge of the culinary industry through speakers, field trips and opportunities to shadow some of San Diego’s most prestigious culinary professionals. 

Full list of nominees available upon request.