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California Restaurant Association Awards San Diego Eateries

California Restaurant Association Awards San Diego Eateriesrestaurants-san-diego

The San Diego Chapter of the CRA awarded honors to dozens of local eateries at the Gold Medallion 2015 Awards on June 8

 

CRA/Facebook

The restaurant industry’s most prestigious honors were bestowed upon San Diego eateries and industry leaders Monday, including restaurateur and chef of the year.

The San Diego County Chapter of the California Restaurant Association (CRA) held its 31st annual Gold Medallion Awards GALA to highlight exceptional restaurants, purveyors, vendors and other industry leaders in the region. In the end, more than 40 awards were given to local eateries in dozens of categories.

The CRA said Mike Morton Jr. of The Brigantine Family of Restaurants won Restaurateur of the Year. Another major award of the night – Chef of the Year – was given to Chef Paul Murphey of Humphreys, also known for his appearances on the Food Network shows “Cutthroat Kitchen” and “Guy’s Grocery Games.”

Both awards were presented to the winners by San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, with a special proclamation to Mike Morton and Mike Morton Jr. for being the San Diego CRA Chapter’s first father-son team to win the coveted Restaurateur of the Year award.

The Mayor and Chapter also recognized Susie Baumann of Bali Hai and Tom Ham’s Lighthouse for her continued commitment to the local restaurant industry.

Here’s the complete list of winners:

Chef of the Year
Paul Murphy | Humphreys

Restaurateur of the Year
Mike Morton Jr. | The Brigantine Family of Restaurants

Large Associate Member of the Year
Southern Wine & Spirits

Medium Associate Member of the Year
Specialty Produce

Small Associate Member of the Year
R.W. Smith

Best American
George’s Ocean Terrace
Prepkitchen

Best American Casual
Harbor Town Bar
Tender Greens

Best American Modern | Global Influences
Brooklyn Girl
Mister A’s

Best Asian
OB Noodle House
Best Bar
The Waterfront Bar & Grill

Best Bakery | Café | Dessert
Bread & Cie Café

Best BBQ
Phil’s BBQ

Best Bistro | Wine Bar
100 Wines Hillcrest
Union Kitchen & Tap
Wine Vault & Bistro

Best Breakfast
Studio Diner
Tractor Room

Best Brunch
Hash House a Go Go

Best Burger
Burger Lounge

Best Casino Restaurant
Barona Resort & Casino

Best Caterer
Urban Kitchen Catering

Best French
Marine Room

Best Hotel Casual Restaurant
Sheerwater | Hotel Del Coronado
The Grill at the Lodge at Torrey Pines

Best Hotel Fine Dining Restaurant
AR. Valentien | The Lodge ta Torrey Pines
JRDN Restaurant | Tower 23
NINR-TEN restaurant | Colonial Inn

Best International Cuisine
Rei do Gado
Royal India

Best Italian Casual
Davanti Enoteca

Best Italian Modern Fine Dining
Bencotta
CUCINA urbana | CUCINA enoteca

Best Italian Traditional
Venetian Restaurant

Best Mexican Casual
El Indio Restaurant

Best Mexican Dinner House
Miguel’s Cocina
Puesto

Best Microbreweries | Restaurant
Ballast Point Brewery

Best Modern Fusion | Pacific Rim
Bal Hai Restaurant

Best New Restaurant Casual
Comun Kitchen and Tavern
OB Warehouse

Best New Restaurant Fine Dining
Juniper & Ivy

Best Night Club Restaurant and Lounge
Humphreys Backstage LIVE

Best Pizza
Blue Ribbon Artisan Pizza
Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza
Woodstock’s Pizza

Best Public House | Pub
The Field Irish Pub & Kitchen
Vin de Sirah

Best Quick Casual
Carnitas Snack Shack

Best Seafood Casual
The Brigantine

Best Seafood Fine Dining
Tom Ham’s Lighthouse
Top of the Market

Best Sports Restaurant
TrueNorth Tavern

Best Steakhouse Casual
Gaslamp Strip Club

Best Steakhouse Fine Dining
Cowboy Star Restaurant & Butcher Shop

Best Sushi | Japanese
Nobu

Organizers say the gala raised more than $160,000, which the CRA San Diego Chapter will use for foodservice equipment, supplies and mentoring for the Culinary Arts programs at Morse High School, San Diego High School, Hoover High School, Scripps Ranch High School, Madison High School and Garfield High School, among other charitable uses.