VOTE For Your Fave Connecticut Restaurants in CRAZIES Awards 2021

The Connecticut Restaurant Association (CRA) announced today the award winners and nominees for the 2021 CRAzies Awards Gala. Each year, the CRAzies recognizes the exceptional ability and talent of Connecticut’s restaurant community at this prestigious awards gala. Restaurant owners, operators, chefs, vendors and more will come together to celebrate the success of the industry at Foxwoods Resort Casino on Monday, December 6. VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITES HERE.

The CRAzies selection process began earlier this week when a panel of more than 25 food writers, critics, bloggers, and social media influencers sat down to finalize the list of award winners and nominees. Restaurateur of the Year, CT Hospitality Hall of Fame, Vendor of the Year and Friend of the Industry nominees were brought to the CRA Board of Directors, where the overall winners were selected in each of these four categories. 

In the remaining categories, the public can now vote by CLICKING HERE through the end of November for each category: Chef of the Year, Pastry Chef/Baker of the Year, Bartender of the Year, Server of the Year, Caterer of the Year, Restaurant Newcomer, People’s Choice, Regional Restaurants of the Year and Overall Restaurant of the Year. Winners will be selected from not only the public vote, but also from our nominating panel members.   

The 2021 Restaurateur of the Year honoree is Bill Taibe of For The Food Restaurant Group, who owns and operates The Whelk (Westport), Don Memo (Westport), Kawa Ni (Westport) and The Norwalk Art Space Café (Norwalk). 

The Connecticut Hospitality Hall of Fame inductees for 2021 will be Louis’ Lunch (New Haven) and Match Restaurant (Norwalk). The 2021 Vendors of the Year are ClarkHirth Associates, an accounting, tax and consulting services firm located in Farmington, and FordHarrison LLP, a Labor and Employment Law Firm that is based in Hartford. The 2021 Friend of the Industry Award will go to CT DECD Commissioner David Lehman for his dedication and leadership to our industry throughout the pandemic.

Highlighting our finalist categories, one of the most coveted awards is Chef of the Year. The five finalists for 2021 include Michone Danae Arringtonfrom The Art of Yum (Waterbury), Ashley Flagg from Millwright’s (Simsbury), Joel Gargano from Grano Arso (Chester), Emily Mingrone from Tavern on State (New Haven) and Manuel Romero from Olea (New Haven).

Restaurant Newcomer Award Finalists:

Camacho Garage (New Haven)

The Charles (Wethersfield)

Dockside Brewery (Milford)

Don Memo (Westport)

Shipwright’s Daughter (Mystic). 

People’s Choice Award Finalists:

Red36 (Mystic)

Taco Daddy (Stamford)

The Place 2 Be (Hartford & West Hartford)

Twister Italian Café (Parkville Market, Hartford)

Restaurant of the Year

North Region Finalists (Hartford & Tolland Counties):

Arugula (West Hartford),

Millwright’s (Simsbury)

Present Company (Simsbury)

Shu Restaurant (West Hartford)

South Region Finalists (Middlesex & New Haven Counties)

Le Petit Café (Branford)

Shell & Bones (New Haven)

Tavern on State (New Haven)

Viron Rondo Osteria (Cheshire)

East Region Finalists (New London & Windham Counties):

Oyster Club (Mystic)

Stone Row Kitchen & Bar (Willimantic)

TAO Asian Bistro & Lounge (Uncasville)

Tony D’s (New London).

West Region Finalists (Fairfield & Litchfield Counties):

@ The Corner (Litchfield)

Community Table (New Preston)

OKO (Westport)

Taproot (Bethel). 

 Pastry Chef/Baker of the Year Finalists:

Kristin Eddy from Millwright’s (Simsbury)

Chan Graham from BouNom Bakery (Avon)

David Vacca from Nana’s Bakery & Pizza (Mystic)

Rob VanKeuren from Flour Water Salt Bread (Darien).

Bartender of the Year Finalists:

Ryan Andrade from The White Hart Inn (Salisbury)

Jade Ayala from Oyster Club (Mystic)

Juan Meyer from Rosina’s (Greenwich)

Khalid Williams from Taprock (Unionville).

Server of the Year Finalists:

Amanda Casey from Viron Rondo Osteria (Cheshire)

Jason Gould from Fleming’s Steakhouse (West Hartford)

Brendan Hayes from Roma Ristorante (Oakville)

Jess Saunders from Dockside Brewery (Milford). 

Caterer of the Year Finalists:

Delicacy Catering (West Hartford)

Emily’s Catering (Bristol)

Marcia Selden Catering & Events (Stamford)

The Mobile Pub (Watertown). 

Log onto www.craziesawards.com today to learn more about the finalists, vote for your favorites, purchase tickets or become a sponsor. For additional information, please contact us at info@ctrestaurant.org.