On Sept. 27, the Georgia restaurant industry celebrated the Georgia Restaurant Association’s Georgia Restaurant Association Crystal of Excellence (GRACE) Awards at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. The GRACE Awards Gala is an inclusive event honoring those who have made outstanding contributions to Georgia’s restaurant industry. This year’s winners, finalists and honorees include:
Lifetime Achievement Honoree
Dr. Debra Cannon, Ph.D., Georgia State University, Robinson School of Business, Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality
Restaurateur of the Year Finalists
Amici Food Group (Michael Torino & Chris Torino)
PITA Mediterranean Street Food (Nour Rabai)
Southern Proper Hospitality (Chris Hadermann) – WINNER
VanTrece Hospitality (Deborah VanTrece)
Restaurateur Rookie of the Year Finalists
Lil Ice Cream Dude Cool World Ice Cream Shop (Victor “Beau” Shell)
MAD Hospitality (Preston Snyder)
Mukja Korean Fried Chicken (Sean Chang) – WINNER
Southern Belle + Georgia Boy (Joey Ward)
Industry Partner of the Year Finalists
Goliath Consulting Group
Mellissa Libby & Associates – WINNER
Savannah Bee Company
Hospitality Hero of the Year Finalists
Gathering Industries (Alex Reethof)
RO Hospitality (Ryan Pemice)
Sterling Hospitality (John C. Metz) – WINNER
GRACE Awards Honorees
Restaurant Manager of the Year Honoree
Pepe Fundora, Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant and Cork & Glass
Restaurant Employee of the Year Honoree
Catherine Najera, Willy’s Mexicana Grill
Prostart® Student of the Year Honoree
Jennifer Pacheco, Maxwell High School of Technology
Chairman’s Honoree
Senate President Pro Tempore Butch Miller, Georgia State Senate
People’s Choice Awards
The People’s Choice Awards feature four new award categories: Favorite Neighborhood Hangout, Favorite Born and Raised Beverage, Favorite Entertainment Experience and Uniquely Georgia. All awards were nominated and voted on by the Georgia restaurant community, including restaurant guests, employees, suppliers and vendors.
Favorite Neighborhood Hangout
The Woodall
Favorite Entertainment Experience
THE ROOF at Ponce City Market
Favorite Born and Raised Beverage
Bold Monk Brewing Co.
Uniquely Georgia Restaurant
Canoe
“The GRACE Awards Gala is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the incredible individuals and companies that created a more hospitable and familiar world during on of the most challenging periods in recent memory,” says Karen Bremer, President and CEO of the GRA.
Winners are chosen by the GRACE Academy, comprised of former GRACE finalists and honorees as well as current GRA Board members.
-Photos-
Mukja Korean Fried Chicken Co-Owner Sean Chang accepting the GRACE Award for Restaurateur Rookie of the Year.
Southern Proper Hospitality’s Chris Hadermann takes home the 2022 GRACE Award for Restaurateur of the Year.
(From left to right accepting GRA Hall of Fame awards) John Harof of Sizzling Steak Concepts, Ellen Weaver Hartman of Hartman Public Relations, and Maria Fundora accepting on behalf of the late Mario Antonio “Tony” Fundora of Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant.
Melissa Libby of Melissa Libby & Associates accepting her GRACE award for Industry Partner of the Year
