Winners will get this award, made by the same company that manufacturers the trophies for the Golden Globe Awards. (Courtesy of The Golden Foodie Awards)
The nominees are in for the Golden Foodie Awards – a first-time culinary awards show sponsored by the OC Restaurant Association.
The 30 categories focus on everything from culinary talents (best mixologist) to cuisine (best Mediterranean food) to hospitality (excellent service). Tickets, which cost $150, are available for the Sept. 30 event held at the Fairmont Newport Beach hotel. Restaurants nominated in multiple categories include Savannah Chop House, 320 Main, Scott’s Restaurant and Bar, French 75 and newcomers Tamarind of London, SeaLegs and The Ranch Restaurant.
Andrew Edwards, owner of The Ranch in Anaheim, said the nominations validate what he has set out to do with the restaurant: deliver high-quality food and service.
“You have to have the best product in any industry you’re in. With [Chef} Michael Rossi, I got the food. With Michael Jordan, I have the wine,” Edwards said of his critically acclaimed culinary team.
The Ranch is up for Best Steak, Best Wine List and Best Interior Design. Nominees in most every category were selected based on public voting over the summer, making The Ranch’s multiple nominations even more impressive given that it has only been open since January.
“We have new people coming in every night,” said Edwards, who spent $10 million opening The Ranch at the ground level of the Extron building. “We’re having fun, and we’re going to deliver the best.”
Operators of Tamarind in Newport Coast, which opened in November, said they’re delighted to be included in the inaugural Golden Foodie Awards.
“With Indian food continuing to gain in popularity in the U.S. among all ethnic cuisine types, Tamarind takes pride in being on the vanguard of this trend and looks forward to continuing to serve the public with the highest quality dining experience available,” Tamarind of London Executive Chef Alfred Prasad said.
During the Golden Foodie event, guests will dine from food stations presented by top local restaurants including 118 Degrees, Bluewater Grill, Five Crowns, French 75, Haven Gastropub, RA Sushi, Ruth’s Chris Steak House and SOL Cucina. In the ballroom, Casey’s Cupcakes, Blackmarket Bakery, Randy’s Brownies and Desserts and Shari’s Berries will serve desserts.
Here are the nominees in each category:
Best American Food:
Playground (Santa Ana)
Savannah Chop House (Laguna Niguel)
The Crow Bar and Kitchen (Corona del Mar)
Best Mexican Food:
Gabbi’s Mexican Kitchen (Orange)
Javier’s (Irvine)
SOL Cocina (Newport Beach)
Best Vegetarian Food:
118 Degrees (Costa Mesa)
Avanti Café (Costa Mesa)
Tamarind of London (Newport Coast)
Best Pizza:
Il Dolce Pizzeria (Costa Mesa)
Pizzeria Ortica (Costa Mesa)
Pizzeria Mozza (Newport Beach)
Best Beer Menu:
Haven Gastropub (Orange)
TAPS Brewery (Brea)
Slater’s 50/50 (Huntington Beach)
Best Cocktails:
320 Main (Seal Beach)
Broadway by Amar Santana (Laguna Beach)
French 75 (Laguna Beach)
Best Italian Food:
Antonello’s (Santa Ana)
Lucca Café (Irvine)
Cucina Alessa (Laguna Beach)
Best Indian Food:
Mayur (Corona del Mar)
Royal Khyber (Santa Ana)
Tamarind of London (Newport Coast)
Best French Food:
Brasserie Pascal (Newport Beach)
French 75 (Laguna Beach)
Marche Moderne (Costa Mesa)
Best Steak:
The Ranch Restaurant (Anaheim)
Ruth’s Chris in Irvine
Savannah Chop House (Laguna Niguel)
Best Mixologist:
Dave Castillo of 320 Main
Forrest Taylor of French 75
Shanti Dutta of Tamarind of London
Best Wine List:
SeaLegs Wine Bar (Huntington Beach)
The Ranch (Anaheim)
The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar (Tustin)
Golden Chef Award:
Chef Alan Greeley, Golden Truffle in Costa Mesa
Chef Yvon Goetz, The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar in Tustin
Chef Craig Strong, Studio Restaurant at the Montage Laguna Beach
Golden Pastry Chef:
Chef Rachel Klemek, Blackmarket Bakery (Irvine)
Chef Cathy Pavlos, Lucca Café (Irvine)
Chef Santana Salas, Haven Gastropub (Orange)
Next Golden Chef Award (top 3 culinary students from The Art Institute of California):
Roshelle May
Francis Laureano
Vincent Espinoza
Excellent Service ($15 and up):
Anaheim White House
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse (Irvine)
Stonehill Tavern (St. Regis Resort/Dana Point)
Best Asian Cuisine:
AnQi (South Coast Plaza/Costa Mesa)
Starfish (Laguna Beach)
Ten Asian Bistro (Newport Beach)
Best Burger:
Crow Burger Kitchen (Newport Beach)
Mick’s Karma Bar (Irvine)
Slater’s 50/50 (Huntington Beach)
Best Californian Cuisine:
Opah (Aliso Viejo)
SeaLegs Wine Bar (Huntington Beach)
Sundried Tomato (San Juan Capistrano)
Best Mediterranean:
K’ya Bistro (Laguna Beach)
Lucca Cafe (Irvine)
Zov’s (Tustin)
Best Seafood:
Bluewater Grill (Tustin)
House of Big Fish and Ice Cold Beer (Laguna Beach)
Scott’s Restaurant and Bar (Costa Mesa)
Most Delicious Dessert:
Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen for their Double Chocolate Bread Pudding (Downtown Disney/Anaheim)
Savannah Chop House for their Tres Leches Cake (Laguna Niguel)
The Matador Cantina for their Cookie Fundido (Fullerton)
Best Sushi:
Hamamori Sushi (Costa Mesa)
RA Sushi (Tustin)
Riptide Sushi (Mission Viejo)
Best Tacos:
Avila’s El Ranchito (Newport Beach)
Soho Taco (Catering and Food Truck)
SOL Cocina (Newport Beach)
Best Happy Hour:
Brasserie Pascal (Newport Beach)
K’ya Bistro (Laguna Beach)
Scott’s Restaurant and Bar (Costa Mesa)
Excellent Service (Casual Dining):
Bruxie (Rancho Santa Margarita)
The Counter (Irvine)
Mi Casa (Costa Mesa)
Best Interior Design:
The Ranch Restaurant & Saloon (Anaheim)
Cucina Enoteca (Irvine)
Charlie Palmer (South Coast Plaza/Costa Mesa)
Best Restaurant Branding:
AnQi (South Coast Plaza/Costa Mesa)
R+D Kitchen (Fashion Island/Newport Beach)
Wahoo’s Fish Taco (multiple O.C. locations)
Best Food Truck:
Rancho A Go Go BBQ
The Lime Truck
The Burnt Truck
Best Food Blogger:
Fast Food Maven
Diary of a Mad Hungry Woman
Cathy Thomas Cooks
-Register intern Sepideh Nia contributed to this report.
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Golden Foodie Awards: The final list of nominees is a post from: Fast Food Maven
