The Golden Gate Restaurant Association (GGRA) announced the final four nominees for 16 open award categories to be honored in its first awards gala, The Saucy Awards, taking place on November 14 at the Herbst Theater. The GGRA, celebrating its 80th Anniversary this year, announced the awards and gala in August. The awards will recognize the San Francisco Bay Area restaurant and bar community for its excellence.
During an open nomination period from August 1—September 22, hospitality industry professionals and concepts, not exclusive to GGRA members, within seven Bay Area counties (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Sonoma) were nominated by their peers or self-nomination for 16 open awards. The Saucy Awards steering committee, consisting of six industry veterans & luminaries, have since narrowed down the field to four nominees for each award.
In addition to the 16 industry-driven award categories, there are two additional awards. The GGRA has partnered with San Francisco magazine to present a People’s Choice Award for Restaurant of the Year at the gala, honoring the public’s favorite restaurant of 2016. Nominations are now open to the general public through San Francisco magazine’s website until October 23. People’s Choice nominations will then be narrowed down to the final four nominees, which will also be voted on by the general public from October 26—November 9. Finally, for the 18th award category, the Golden Gate Restaurant Association will present its own GGRA Lifetime Achievement Award at the gala on November 14.
“We have such an incredible pool of passionate and talented industry professionals in the Bay Area and felt that an awards gala that recognizes that talent was missing from the landscape” says Executive Director of the GGRA Gwyneth Borden.
Priced at $150 per person, tickets include The Saucy Awards gala at Herbst Theater, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Following the awards ceremony, guests will enjoy a reception catered by Estate Events by Meadowood in the Green Room. The reception will include cocktails by Campari, wine by Robert Mondavi Winery and heavy hors d’oeuvres. Guests will also be invited to continue the celebration at a private after-party at Mr. Tipple’s Recording Studio.
Complete List of Nominees
Category: Chefs
Chef of the Year presented by OpenTable
David Barzelay—Lazy Bear
Brandon Jew—Mister Jiu’s
Ravi Kapur—Liholiho Yacht Club
Aaron London—Al’s Place
Pastry Chef of the Year
Melissa Chou—Mister Jiu’s
Belinda Leong—b.patisserie
Michelle Polzine—Twentieth Century Café
Sarah Rich—Rich Table
Rising Star Chef of the Year presented by Estate Events by Meadowood
John Griffiths—Bluestem Brasserie
Laura Meyer—Tony’s Pizza Napoletana
Melissa Reitz—Bar Agricole
Jose Miguel Smith—La Urbana
Category: Service
Restaurateur of the Year presented by OpenTable
Nicole Krasinski and Stuart Brioza—State Bird & The Progress
Umberto Gibin—Perbacco & Barbacco
Craig and Annie Stoll—Delfina Restaurant Group
Michael and Lindsay Tusk—Quince & Cotogna
Beverage Professional of the Year
Ian Adams—15 Romolo
Kevin Diedrich—Pacific Cocktail Haven
Shelley Lindgren—A16 & SPQR
Lulu McAllister—NOPA & Liholiho Yacht Club
Employee of the Year
Victor Herrera Chavez—American Grilled Cheese Kitchen
Kory Cogdill—Tacolicious
Fausto Galicia—Michael Mina
Danny Ulloa—Souvla
Manager of the Year
Max Coane—Saison
Justine Flynn—Souvla
Jacopo Rosito—54 Mint SF
Daniel Zomerfeld—Campton Place at Taj
Outstanding Industry Service
Georgopoulos and Economidis, LLP
Liz Subauste at Sobremesa SF
Greenleaf Produce
Monterey Fish Market
Category: Restaurants
Exceptional Full Service Restaurant of the Year presented by BiRite Foodservice Distributors
Lazy Bear
Mister Jiu’s
NOPA
Perbacco
Exceptional Fast Casual Restaurant of the Year presented by Georgopoulos & Economidis, LLP
Barzotto
Souvla
Super Duper Burgers
Uno Dos Tacos
Exceptional Non Brick & Mortar Restaurant of the Year
Curry Up Now
RoliRoti
Señor Sisig
The Lunchpad SF
Category: Programs
Wine Program of the Year presented by Robert Mondavi Winery
1760—Gianpaolo Paterlini
A16 & SPQR—Shelley Lindgren
NOPA & Liholiho Yacht Club—LuLu McAllister
One Market—Tonya Pitts
Cocktail Program of the Year presented by Campari America
Bar Agricole
Roka Bar (Roka Akor)
The Treasury
Wildhawk
Beer Program of the Year
21st Amendment Brewery and Restaurant
Monk’s Kettle
Smokestack at Magnolia Brewing
Trappist Lounge
Sustainable Restaurant or Bar of the Year presented by Recology
Healdsburg SHED—Cindy Daniel and Doug Lipton
Ichi Sushi—Erin and Tim Archuleta
The Perennial—Anthony Myint & Karen Leibowitz
Twenty Five Lusk—Matthew Dolan
Community Spirit of the Year presented by Comcast
1300 on Fillmore—David Lawrence
Jardiniere—Traci Des Jardins
Tacolicious—Sara Deseran and Joe Hargrave
The Bon Vivants—Josh Harris and Scott Baird
Now that nominees have been selected, restaurant members of the GGRA and all nominees will be provided a single ballot to vote for the final winners. Voters will rank their top four choices. To ensure unbiased and fair results, OUM & Co. LLP, an independent accounting firm will tally and process the votes to determine the winners.
The Saucy Awards, will benefit the GGRA’s Scholarship & Education Foundation (GGRASF), as a part of its initiative to advance and support the hospitality industry in the Bay Area. The GGRA serves to celebrate and empower the restaurant community through advocacy, education, marketing, events, and training.
