FOOD
Innovative Fast Bites
Innovative Fast Bites
This award honors our fast-casual segment and the restaurant that constantly brings innovation to the table.
Considerations include:
- Innovative menu creation in the fast-casual segment
- Consistency of service
- Restaurant must have opened prior to January 1, 2019
Arizona Craft Retail Food Product
Arizona Craft Retail Food Product
This award honors the tried and true recipes that we want to have available at home.
Considerations include:
- Creative retail product
- Sold or available for sale to the general public in restaurants or any retail establishment
- Must include the restaurant name and product name to be a valid nomination
- Must have been on the market prior to January 1, 2019
Signature Dish
Signature Dish
Honors the restaurant that quite simply does it best.
Considerations include:
- Innovative recipe
- Unique composition of quality ingredients
- Must include the restaurant name and dish name to be a valid nomination
- Restaurant must have opened prior to January 1, 2019
BEVERAGE
Arizona’s Best Coffee House
Arizona’s Best Coffee House
Honoring Arizona grown coffee that is taking the state, and maybe even the country by storm.
Considerations include:
- Quality sourced coffee beans
- Consistency of service
- Exemplary customer experience
- Must have opened prior to January 1, 2019
Favorite Arizona Winery
Favorite Arizona Winery
Toasting the top Arizona Winery.
Considerations include:
- Native Arizona wine and winery favored among the general public
- Must have opened prior to January 1, 2019
Top Arizona Brewery
Top Arizona Brewery
Raising a glass to the best Arizona brewery.
Considerations include:
- Brewed locally in the state of Arizona
- Open for service as an establishment or available for purchase at retail outlets
- Must have opened prior to January 1, 2019
Cocktail Program
Cocktail Program
Raising a glass to an elite cocktail program.
Considerations include:
- Creatively crafted quality cocktails
- Exemplary presentation of cocktails
- Depth and consistency in menu with diversified price points
- Must have opened prior to January 1, 2019
Wine program
Wine Program
Considerations include:
- Establishment with knowledgeable staff
- Diversity of menu and price points
- Vast selection of wines and regions represented
- Must include the restaurant name to be a valid nomination
- Must have opened prior to January 1, 2019
Best Beverage Program
Best Beverage Program
Recognizing a bar or restaurant that keeps their beverage menu edgy yet approachable embracing all things beverage – spirits, wine and beer.
Considerations include:
- Diversity of menu and price points
- Creatively crafted and presented cocktails
- Vast selection of beer
- Carefully crafted wine program
- Must have opened prior to January 1, 2019
RESTAURANTS
Innovative Restaurant Concept
Innovative Restaurant Concept
Recognizes a restaurateur or restaurant group who demonstrates that they don’t follow trends; they define them, setting the bar in restaurant operations and the overall customer dining experience.
Considerations include:
- Hospitality and service
- Quality and creative menu items
- Ambiance
- Overall dining experience
- Must have opened prior to January 1, 2019
Fantastic Food Truck
Fantastic Food Truck
Recognizes outstanding achievement in mobile nourishment, operations and community development.
Considerations include:
- Hospitality and professionalism
- Innovative menu creation in the food truck segment
- Consistency and quality of service
- Must have opened prior to January 1, 2019
Emerging Restaurant of the Year
Emerging Restaurant of the Year
Honors promising up-and-comers that demonstrate exemplary talent, showcase innovation and have already distinguished themselves as pacesetters in food, beverage and service.
Considerations include:
- Hospitality and professionalism
- Quality and creative menu items
- Ambiance
- Overall dining experience
- Must have opened prior to January 1, 2019
Top Arizona Caterer
Top Arizona Caterer
An Arizona grown catering team that provides quality dining experience at any location and exemplary service.
Considerations include:
- Hospitality and professionalism
- Innovative menu creation
- Consistency and quality of service
- Must have opened prior to January 1, 2019
Outstanding Local Restaurant Group
Outstanding Local Restaurant Group
Honors a culinary group with more than 3 locations with the same or different brands, demonstrating exceptional achievement and commitment to excellence in marketing, menu design and customer service.
Considerations include:
- Hospitality and professionalism
- Minimum of three Arizona locations (same brand or multiple concepts)
- Unique concept creation
- Exemplary food and beverage experience
- Must have opened prior to January 1, 2019
Uniquely Arizona
Uniquely Arizona
Home to some of the oldest documented food traditions, Arizona has a rich culinary past steeped in tradition. We are searching statewide for the restaurants that embrace not only the local food but are staples of the state.
Considerations include:
- Hospitality and professionalism
- Arizona born restaurant concept
- Unique menu items with Arizona flare
- Must have opened prior to January 1, 2019
PEOPLE
Acclaimed Industry Instagrammer
Acclaimed Industry Instagrammer
Honoring the best Instagrammer who has captured the hearts of its visitors with outstanding Instagram food photography.
Considerations include:
- Expansive following
- Quality imagery of the food and beverage industry
- Must include the Instagram handle to be a valid nomination
- Must have started prior to January 1, 2019
Best of the Best Food Writer
Best of the Best Food Writer
This award recognizes a writer, blogger, food critic who dedicates time, passion and energy to capturing the beauty of our industry with the written word in any form.
Considerations include:
- Professionalism
- Brings positive attention to Arizona food and beverage industry
- Must include the name and publication name to be a valid nomination
- Must have started prior to January 1, 2019
Good Neighbor
Good Neighbor
Recognizes the outstanding community leadership and exceptional devotion to making a difference in our neighborhoods and community at large.
Considerations include:
- Hospitality and professionalism
- Industry individual or restaurant group focused on giving back
- Must include the name and/or restaurant group name to be a valid nomination
Must have been in Arizona prior to October 4, 2018
Employee of the Year
Employee of the Year
Recognizes the front or back of house employee (non-managerial) that has set the gold standard for exemplary customer service and enhancing the overall dining experience.
Considerations include:
- Serves as a model employee and team player
- Displays outstanding service, knowledge, and excellent work ethic
- Contributes to a positive work environment
- Must include the name, restaurant name, AND reason for nomination to be a valid nomination
- Must have been employed at location prior to January 1, 2019
Manager of the Year
Manager of the Year
Recognizes the manager that has set the gold standard for exemplary customer service and leadership as well as enhancing the overall dining experience.
Considerations include:
- Displays outstanding service, knowledge, and excellent work ethic
- Demonstrates positive qualities as a leader
- Serves as an ambassador of the restaurant’s vision, mission, and definition of success
- Facilitates positive work environment and prioritizes professional workplace culture
- Must include the name, restaurant name, AND reason for nomination to be a valid nomination
Top Mixologist | Bartender
Top Mixologist | Bartender
Honoring an individual who is behind the bar or constantly raising the bar and setting trends in the beverage scene.
Considerations include:
- Innovation in drink creations
- Personable, hospitable and generous spirit
- Demonstrates beverage knowledge, technical and practical skills
- Must work regularly behind a bar – at least 2 shifts a week or more
- Must include the name and restaurant name to be a valid nomination
- Must have been employed at location prior to January 1, 2019
Top Chef
Top Chef
Pays tribute to outstanding culinary excellence, breaking new ground with an innovative menu while enhancing the dining experience.
Considerations include:
- Exemplary culinary talent
- Innovative menu creation
- Contributes to and facilitates a positive work environment
- Prioritizes a professional culture
- Must include the name and restaurant name to be a valid nomination
- Must have opened prior to January 1, 2019
Food Pioneer
Food Pioneer
Lifetime Achievement Award. Honors a lifetime of outstanding culinary excellence that continues to educate, inspire, entertain and foster a deeper understanding of the culinary culture in Arizona. Voted on by peers
Considerations include:
- Exemplary culinary talent
- Innovative menu creation
- Contributes to and facilitates a positive work environment
- Prioritizes a professional culture
- Must include the name and restaurant name to be a valid nomination
- Must have opened prior to January 1, 2019