51.5 F
Laguna Hills
Thursday, Mar 28, 2024
-Advertisement-

Golden Tickets

“And the winner is … ”

Well, all the diners who frequent the honorees at the eighth annual Golden Foodie Awards held on Sept. 29 at Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa near Fashion Island.

The Orange County Restaurant Association dishes out the statuettes—gold-colored, naturally; the recipients get the figurine, plus a year of braggadocio for bringing the carpaccio. Winners included a mix of familiar names, as well as a few surprises.

Only Natural

Russ Bendel, named Restaurateur of the Year for his three joints—Vine, Ironwood, and Olea—came as no shock to me: he was my honoree for the Business Journal’s own awards last year. He told me his fourth restaurant is on the way.

Others who punched their tickets at the dais:

• Fable and Spirit in Newport Beach, Best New Restaurant.

• Chef John Park of Toast Kitchen & Bakery in Costa Mesa for Chef of the Year.

• Chef Jacky Martinez of Henry’s Ocean View Dining at Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort for Pastry Chef of the Year.

Park is killing it at Toast.

I’ve dined there several times, twice for brunch, and the food is damn good. Go with the chicken and waffles, please.

Other nominees for chef of the year: Ross Pangilinan of Mix Mix, the Business Journal’s choice for that title in this category earlier this year; Amy Lebrun, who brings passion, creativity and freshness to Lido Bottle Works, as well as serving a brilliant burrata crostini at the reception.

She’ll be in an upcoming column.

Still hungry?

• Selanne Steak Tavern won for Best Wine Program.

• Farmhouse at Roger’s Gardens for Best Lunch Spot.

• Ravin Buzzell of CdM Restaurant for Bartender of the Year.

• Social Costa Mesa for Best Bar Program.

• Five Crowns for Best Service.

• Chef Shachi Mehra of Adya for Rising Star Chef of the Year.

Mehra was also a recent on Food Network’s “Chopped.”

Next, try the:

• Best Cocktail at Blind Rabbit.

• Best Entrée and Best Dessert at The Ranch.

• Best Brunch at Bosscat Kitchen & Libations.

• Best Beer Program at the new Helmsman Ale House.

Restaurateur David Hanna won for Best Community Service and two special awards were given: the Legacy nod went to the Avila Family, founders five decades ago of Avila’s El Ranchito, now with a baker’s dozen of them in SoCal, mostly OC; and Lifetime Achievement went to the singular Chef Pascal Olhats, a fixture locally for 35 years, who has owned and operated a handful of famous local restaurants.

Olhats beat cancer this year and is focused on Café Jardin at Sherman Library and Gardens in Corona del Mar. His new kitchen partner is Chef Jessica Roy, whom I raved about last year when she was chef at Current Coastal Cuisine inside the Renaissance Newport Beach hotel.

Roy recently won “Guy’s Grocery Games,” also on Food Network, and now serves plated creativity at Café Jardin.

A dozen restaurants served bites at the reception, Golden Foodie hosts were Neil Saavedra of “The Fork Report” radio show and TV host and cookbook author Aarti Sequeira, and part of the entertainment included nine funny movie clips starring local chefs reproducing food scenes from famous films.

Want more from the best local business newspaper in the country?

Sign-up for our FREE Daily eNews update to get the latest Orange County news delivered right to your inbox!

-Advertisement-

Featured Articles

-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-

Related Articles

-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-