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May 19, 2005
San Diego Restaurateurs Hold Industry Awards Gala
San Diego, CA- The San Diego Chapter of the California Restaurant Association (CRA) hosted its 21st annual Gold Medallion Awards Banquet, San Diego's most prestigious restaurant honors, on Tuesday, May 17 at the Town & Country Resort. This industry award gala is a highly recognized peer-to-peer awards Dinner in San Diego recognizing worthy and exceptional restaurants in the region. It is an opportunity for members restaurateurs to acknowledge their fellow restaurateurs for their business practices, concepts, and achievements in nearly 40 award categories.
"Because these winners are nominated, and then voted upon by their colleagues in the restaurant industry, the Gold Medallion awards are considered a prestigious honor by those who receive them," said Steve Fricker, CRA's San Diego County Chapter president. "This event is not only a chance to award those who lead the industry in San Diego, it's also an evening of fantastic food, drinks, and camaraderie among the restaurant community that only happens once year in this magnitude."
The most distinguished awards went to Kipp Downing for Restaurateur of the Year, proprietor of Pacifica Del Mar, and Jeff Thurston, Executive Chef, The Prado at Balboa Park was honored for Chef of the Year. The public also gets a chance to vote for one award category, the People's Choice Award, where they vote by mail ballot for their favorite San Diego County restaurant. This year, the People's Choice Award went to Outback Steakhouse.
Approximately 1,000 attended the gala, with proceeds from the silent and live auction benefiting local restaurant industry education programs. SYSCO Food Services of San Diego, Inc. sponsored this year's Gold Medallion Awards Banquet.
