GRACE Awards Archive

GRACE 2007 - Inaugural Georgia Restaurant Association Crystal of Excellence Awards

These finalists were recognized at the GRACE Awards Gala on Sunday, November 7, 2007 at the Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead.

Ted Turner,  Keynote

Nadia Bilchik, Mistress of Ceremonies

Restaurateur of the Year
GRACE Award Winner:
Robby Kukler, Kris Reinhard and Steve Simon - Fifth Group Restaurants

Finalists:
Anna and Raymond Hsu - Silk
Nancy Oswald - Ruth's Chris Steak House

Industry Partner of the Year
GRACE Award Winner:
U.S. Foodservice - Keith Knight

Finalists:
The Coca-Cola Company - Ben Shanley
Gas South - Chris Coan and Cobb Pearson
Royal Cup Coffee - Jason Howell
Taylor, Busch, Slipakoff & Duma, LLP - Charles Hoff

Distinguished Service Award
GRACE Award Winner:
Chef Michael Deihl - East Lake Golf Club

Finalists:
Lee Chadwick - The Metropolitan Club
Bobby Donlan - Donlan & Greenbaum's New York Prime

The Innovator Award
GRACE Award Winner:
Bob Amick - Concentrics Restaurants

Finalists:
Jaime Gonzalez - Frontera Mex-Mex Grill
George McKerrow - Ted's Montana Grill and We're Cookin' Inc.

Lifetime Achievement Award
GRACE Award Winners:
George McKerrow - Ted's Montana Grill and We're Cookin' Inc.
Pano Karatassos - Buckhead Life Restaurant Group


GRACE 2008 - 2nd Annual Georgia Restaurant Association Crystal of Excellence Awards

These finalists were recognized at the GRACE Awards Gala on Sunday, November 19, 2008 at the Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead.

Coby Brooks, Keynote

Monica Pearson, Mistress of Ceremonies

Truett Cathy, Lifetime Achievement Award

Restaurateur of the Year
GRACE Award Winner:
Anna Hsu- Silk Restaurant, Hsu's Gourmet, Pacific Rim Bistro

Finalists:
Karen Bremer - City Grill & Dailey's Restaurants
Bob Campbell - Tappan Street Restaurant Group, Inc. (dba) Taco Mac

Industry Partner of the Year
GRACE Award Winner:
The Law offices of Charles Y. Hoff (Affiliated with Taylor, Busch, Slipakoff & Duma, LLP. - Charles Yale Hoff

Finalists:
Gas South - Chris Coan
Royal Cup Coffee - Jason Howell

Distinguished Service Award
GRACE Award Winner:
Lee Chadwick- The Metropolitan Club

Finalists:
Kat Cole - Hooters of America, Inc.
Bobby Donlan - Donlan & Greenbaum's New York Prime

The Innovator Award
GRACE Award Winner:
Chef Matt Cohen - The New South Cafe, Coastal Catering Alliance, Savannah DMC

Finalists:
Chef Patrick Gebrayel - Dunwoody Country Club
Chef Linton Hopkins - Restaurant Eugene, Holeman & Finch Public House

Lifetime Achievement Award
GRACE Award Winner:
Truett Cathy - Chick-fil-A, Inc.


GRACE 2009 - 3rd Annual Georgia Restaurant Association Crystal of Excellence Awards

These finalists were recognized at the GRACE Awards Gala on Sunday, November 15, 2009 at the Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead.

Chef Virginia Willis, Keynote 

Jeff Dauler, Master of Ceremonies   

Karen Bremer, Lifetime Achievement Award       

Restaurateur of the Year
GRACE Award Winner:
Hank Clark - Marlow's Tavern

Finalists:
Niko Karatassos - Buckhead Life Restaurant Group
Mark & Nancy Oswald - Ruth's Chris Steak House

Industry Partner of the Year
GRACE Award Winner:
Royal Cup Coffee - Jason Howell

Finalists:
Gas South, LLC - Chris Coan
Georgia Power Company- Barbara Wilson

Distinguished Service Award
GRACE Award Winner:
Patrick Cuccaro - Affairs to Remember Caterers

Finalists:
Kat Cole - Hooters of America, Inc.
Bobby Donlan - Donlan & Greenbaum's New York Prime

The Innovator Award
GRACE Award Winner:
Holly Elmore - Green Foodservice Alliance

Finalists:
Chef Patrick Gebrayel - Dunwoody Country Club
Bill Johnson - The Johnson Studio

Lifetime Achievement Award
GRACE Award Winner:
Karen Bremer


GRACE 2010 - 4th Annual Georgia Restaurant Association Crystal of Excellence Awards

These finalists were recognized at the GRACE Awards Gala on Sunday, November 14, 2010 at the Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown.

Chef Kevin Gillespie, Keynote

Suchita Vadlamani, Mistress of Ceremonies

Mark and Nancy Oswald, Lifetime Achievement Award    

Restaurateur of the Year
GRACE Award Winner:
Bob Campbell – Tappan Street Restaurant Group, Inc.

Finalists:
Cathy Colasanto – Turner Food & Spirits Co.
Niko Karatassos – Buckhead Life Restaurant Group

Industry Partner of the Year
GRACE Award Winner:
Chris Coan – Gas South, LLC

Finalists:
Kathleen Ciaramello – The Coca-Cola Company
Martin Tanenbaum – Habif, Arogeti & Wynne, LLP

Distinguished Service Award
GRACE Award Winner: Kat Cole – Cinnabon, Inc.

Finalists:
Alan LeBlanc – Brewed To Serve Restaurant Group, Inc.
Carl Muth – FoodService Resource Associates, LLC

The Innovator Award
GRACE Award Winner: Chef Ron Eyester – Rosebud

Finalist:
Sean Yeremyan – Gilbert's Café & Bar, HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern, Corporate Palate Catering

Lifetime Achievement Award
GRACE Award Winner:
Mark & Nancy Oswald, Ruth’s Chris Steak House

GRACE 2011 - 5th Annual Georgia Restaurant Association Crystal of Excellence Awards

These finalists were recognized at the GRACE Awards Gala on Sunday, November 13, 2011 at the Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown.

Lois Reitzes, Mistress of Ceremonies