After a very successful New Haven Restaurant Week that showcased some of Connecticut’s best eateries, I made the rounds to distribute our editorial awards to winners. Presenting the awards was Sharon Sudusky of RestaurantsCT.com, allowing me to move back behind the camera where I belong.
Garnering the most awards was Ibiza Restaurant, considered by many to be America’s best contemporary Spanish restaurant. Here you see Sharon posing with owner Juan Carlos Gonzáles and chef Manolo Romero.
Ibiza’s first-place awards included Best Overall Restaurant, Best Ambiance, Best Overall Menu, Best Overall Dish, Best Soup, Best Use of Pumpkin, Best Plating, Best Server and a tie for Best Front-Of-The-House Person.
Raking in the second most awards was Union League Café. Here you see Sharon with chef-owner Jean-Pierre Vuillermet.
Union League’s first-place awards included Best Overall Service, Best Overall Dinner Value, Best Seafood Dish, Best Poultry Dish, Best Dessert Selection, Best Use Of Chocolate, Hostess With The Mostess, and a tie for Best Front-Of-The-House Person.
Bespoke, which changed hands at the beginning of 2010, won seven awards, including Top Chef, Best Bread & Accompaniments, Best Salad, Best Dessert, Best Décor, Best Lounge Space and Best Bar Area. Seen here is new owner Lauren Kendzierski graciously accepting on behalf of Arturo and Suzette Franco-Camacho.
Geronimo Tequila Bar & Southwest Grill pulled down the awards for Best Newcomer, Best Drink List, Best Porch or Patio Dining, and Best Fireplace. Here you see Christen of Geronimo accepting our award certificate.
Central Steak took first place honors in three categories, including Best Wine List, Best Overall Lunch Value and Best Piece of Meat. Chef-owner Hasni “Jeff” Ghazali is seen here receiving his certificate.
Miya’s Sushi was recognized for Hottest Chef, Most Exotic Menu and Best Vegetarian Selection. Here’s heartthrob Bun Lai himself, receiving our award certificate.
Basta gathered awards for Best Restaurant Owners, Most Romantic and Best Cheese Plate. Chef Daniel Sergi accepted our award certificate on behalf of Frank and Claire Criscuolo.
The eponymous Foster’s won Best Housemade Spirit and Most Colorful Chef. Here is chef-owner David Foster receiving his award.
And here is a view of some of the most recent housemade spirits. When I came to make the award, I might have sampled the vodka infused with cantaloupe and ginger and the rum infused with pineapple, cinnamon and vanilla.
What I won’t do in the name of duty!
L’Orcio won Best Pasta hands down. Here you see Francesco d’Amuri and Alison De Renzi accepting their certificate. And if I had an award for Cutest Restaurant Couple, they’d have probably be shoe-ins.
We look forward to covering future editions of the New Haven Restaurant Week. Congratulations to all of our winners!
My wife and I ate at L’Orcio last time we were up in New Haven…it was truly amazing!…we both agreed that we’d never eaten Italian food that good outside of southern ltaly, and their was even terrific by that standard…super friendly people there also.