The people have spoken ” and the Marine Room, under chef Bernard Guillas at La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club, is again the top restaurant of choice.
The People’s Choice Award was presented to the Marine Room by the San Diego County chapter of the California Restaurant Association (CRA), which recently celebrated its 23rd annual Gold Medallion Awards Banquet at the Town & Country Resort.
Designed as a “peer-to-peer” awards dinner where only members can vote except for the People’s Choice Award chosen by the public, this highly anticipated event surpassed all expectations.
“Over 1,300 people attended,” exclaimed Beverly Mascari, president of the San Diego Country chapter of the CRA and owner of Anthony’s Fish Grotto. “This is the largest turnout ever in our history.”
Mascari, whose one-year term as chapter president expires in October, explained the voting process as one of having 45 different categories that take into account the types of restaurants.
“Our members range from a single owner, small restaurant to chains like Chili’s to fine-dining establishments,” she said. “Our chapter also receives a tremendous amount of support from associate members who are the vendors for our restaurants.”
Other La Jolla-area awards went to Roppongi, 875 Prospect St., for best Asian Fine Dining; The Grill at the Lodge, 11480 N. Torrey Pines Road, for Hotel Restaurant Casual; Trattoria Acqua, 1298 Prospect St., for Italian Fine Dining; Jack’s La Jolla, 7863 Girard Ave., for New Fine Dining; La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club, 2000 Spindrift Drive, for Recreation /Clubs; and Café Japengo, 8960 University Centre Lane, for Sushi Bar.
Pacific Beach winners were the French Gourmet, 960 Turquoise St., for catering; JRDN at Tower 23, 723 Felspar St., in the hotel restaurant fine-dining category; and Moondoggies, 832 Garnet Ave., in the sports restaurant/bar category.
For the curious who may not see their favorite restaurant as an award winner, it may be because the venue is not a member of the CRA-San Diego Chapter.
“We have 500 San Diego County restaurants who are members of the chapter and it is growing all the time,” Mascari said. “However, there are over 6,000 restaurants in the entire county and that number is also increasing.”
The awards banquet is more than just an event to pat members on the back. The San Diego County chapter uses proceeds from the banquet itself as well as other efforts to help the community according to Mascari.
“We have donated and paid for the installation of a full kitchen of equipment in a number of high schools, like Mira Mesa, San Diego, Morse and Garfield,” she said. “These efforts were to help them with their culinary arts programs. The education process is a big part of what we believe in with our chapter.”
Other awards are given for the Chef of the Year, Restaurateur of the Year and Associate Member of the Year.
With around 5,500 restaurants not yet members, Mascari is hopeful more will join and believes the advantages are enormous.
“One key benefit is to get the latest news on all the issues impacting the restaurant business, like health codes,” she said. “California is prolific at creating all types of laws and it can be tough to keep up to date on them. We also offer educational seminars at nominal fees, which would cost much more for someone to attend on their own. When you join the local chapter, you are also part of the statewide chapter and [have] access to all those resources.”
Mascari, whose family has been CRA members since the organization first began in 1946, believes the membership benefits extend will beyond keeping informed on laws and regulations.
“Immediately you will be able to connect with our associate members who may be able to provide you with products and services more efficiently cost-effective than what you have now,” she noted. “I can’t even begin to imagine what it would be like not being a member.”
To help ensure a membership is affordable to all types of restaurants, dues are based on revenue sales for each dining establishment.
For more information on the award winners and membership options, the San Diego County Chapter office is located at 409 Camino Del Rio South, Suite 310, in San Diego; call (619) 297-8200; or visit the CRA website, www.calrest.org.