2026 Best of the Valley Restaurant Awards to Honor Sam Toledo
Event celebrates notable Central Valley restaurants across dozens of categories.

News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 02, 2026
Contact: Jessica Roots ▪ 916.431.2765jroots@calrest.org

FRESNO, CA: The Fresno Chapter of the California Restaurant Association will present the Lifetime Achievement Award to Sam Toledo at the 2026 Best of the Valley Restaurant Awards. The event will also honor Hall of Fame inductees Bob Farrar, Franco Paolili, and Virginia Paolili.

For over 30 years, the Best of the Valley Restaurant Awards has showcased the region’s dining scene by recognizing outstanding restaurants in various categories. Nominations for the 2026 awards, selected by fellow restaurateurs and the dining community, opened on January 1, 2026.

Tickets are available to the public and media. Press members interested in attending should contact Jessica Roots at 916.431.2765 or jroots@calrest.org.

WHAT: 2026 Best of the Valley Restaurant Awards
WHEN: 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 24, 2026
WHERE: Table Mountain Casino Resort, 777 Jackpot Lane, Friant, CA 93626

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About the CRA: The California Restaurant Association provides ultimate access to the resources and support that neighborhood restaurants need to lead thriving businesses while serving as conscientious, contributing members of an unparalleled industry. California is home to eating and drinking places that ring up more than $200 billion in sales and employ nearly 1.4 million workers, making restaurants an indisputable driving force in the state’s economy.