The Foodist Awards Return

 Arizona Restaurant Association Announces Return of Annual Foodist Awards

Nominations take place online Feb. 7 through 21

PHOENIX (Feb. 7, 2022) — After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the Arizona Restaurant Association (ARA) announces the return of the Foodist Awards. The ARA encourages diners to support the food and beverage industry by nominating their favorite food, beverage, restaurant, chef and more in specific categories. Nominations take place online at www.foodistawards.com beginning Monday, Feb. 7.

“The Foodist Awards strive to shine a spotlight on the incredible food scene in Arizona and the people that are working tirelessly every day to create it,” says Arizona Restaurant Association President and CEO Steve Chucri. “As part of our advocacy efforts to support the state’s hospitality industry, we could not be more pleased to bring this signature, industry event back. We invite voters to make their opinions heard in support of the industry and their favorite restaurants.” The complete list of award categories is as follows:

FOOD

-Innovative Fast Bites — honoring fast-casual segment and the restaurant that constantly brings innovation to the table

-Outstanding Signature Dish — the restaurant that quite simply does it best

-World Class Dessert — desserts around the state that are not simply afterthoughts, but could stand on their own

-Exceptional Happy Hour — happy hours around the state that are outstanding in food and beverage offerings

 BEVERAGE 

-Top Arizona Brewery — raising a glass to the best Arizona brewery
-Superb Bar/Nightclub — the best in entertainment, beverage and atmosphere around the state

-Best Beverage Program — recognizing a bar or restaurant that keeps their beverage menu edgy yet approachable embracing all things beverage –cocktails, wine and beer

-Most Creative Cocktails To-Go — cocktails to go may be, hands down, the coolest trend born out of necessity in 2020, and restaurants and their very talented bar teams had fun creating unique beverage pairings with to-go menus, curated cocktails in jars, pouches and batched for the weekend.  

RESTAURANTS

-Innovative Fine Dining Restaurant Concept — recognizes a restaurateur or restaurant group who demonstrates that they don’t follow fine dining trends, they define them, setting the bar in restaurant operations and the overall customer dining experience in this segment

-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

-Fast Casual Restaurant of the Year — honors a restaurant concept that embraces the fast casual model, while maintaining high quality food, beverage and service levels

-Outstanding Local Restaurant Group — honors a culinary group with more than three locations with the same or different brands, demonstrating exceptional achievement and commitment to excellence in marketing, menu design and customer service

-Uniquely Arizona — home to some of the oldest documented food traditions, Arizona has a rich culinary past steeped in tradition. This award recognizes restaurants that embrace not only the local food but are staples of the state

-Technology Trailblazers — honors restaurants utilizing technology in unique ways to support customer experiences or embrace safety precautions 

PEOPLE

-Pandemic Good Neighbor — recognizes the outstanding community leadership and exceptional devotion to making a difference in local neighborhoods and community at large, while navigating the most traumatic two years in the industry during the ongoing pandemic
-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
-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
-Top Mixologist | Bartender — honoring an individual who is behind the bar, constantly raising the bar and setting trends in the beverage scene
-Top Chef — pays tribute to outstanding culinary excellence, breaking new ground with an innovative menu while enhancing the dining experience

Nominations are accepted beginning Tuesday, Feb. 7 through Sunday, Feb. 21. The Foodist Awards ceremony takes place Thursday, April 7 at 5:30 p.m. at Republic National Distributing Company’s 7th & Union event space. For complete considerations and details for voting, visit www.foodistawards.com.

About the Arizona Restaurant Association: Dedicated to helping its members become leaders in their communities through building customer loyalty, escalating awareness of food safety and healthy living, bolstering a thriving industry and rewarding workforce and increasing financial success, the Arizona Restaurant Association is the brainchild of events that support the state’s culinary scene including Arizona Restaurant Week and the Foodist Awards. For more, visit www.azrestaurant.org.