The Fresno Chapter of the California Restaurant Association (CRA) held its annual "Best of the Valley" awards ceremony on March 5th, 2025, celebrating the Central Valley's vibrant culinary scene. The event, sponsored by Table Mountain Casino Resort, honored top restaurants across various categories, as judged by their peers. Lorraine Salazar of Sal's Mexican Restaurant received the Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to the industry and community advocacy. Other notable awards included Hall of Fame inductions for Ken Ford (JD Food) and Bob Papazian (Sysco), and distinctions for top establishments in categories ranging from fine dining (Cracked Pepper Bistro) and fast casual (Heirloom) to best pizza (Annesso Pizzeria), best BBQ (Westwoods BBQ & Spice Co.), and many more. Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer and Jot Condie, president and CEO of the CRA, both spoke at the event, highlighting the significance of the restaurant industry to the region's economy and culture. The awards represent a comprehensive overview of the high-quality dining experiences available in Fresno County, a region boasting a high concentration of restaurants per capita in California.

Source: California Restaurant Association

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• https://www.calrest.org/news/winners-2025-best-valley-awards-california-restaurant-association-fresno-chapter

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