Nominees have been unveiled for the 2025 Best of the Valley Restaurant Awards presented by the California Restaurant Association Fresno chapter. File photo
Written by Ben Hensley
Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story incorrectly reported the event would take place April 8. The event will take place March 3.
The Fresno chapter of the California Restaurant Association announced the final six nominee categories for the 2025 Best of the Valley Restaurant Awards that will take place in March.
Nominees in the six additional categories were announced earlier this month and featured nominees for awards in Beverage Supplier of the Year, Supplier of the Year, Chef of the Year, Restaurateur of the Year, Rising Star and People’s Choice categories.
The People’s Choice category will be voted on live during the event, which takes place on March 3 at 5 p.m. at Table Mountain Casino Resort.
Tickets to the event start at $175, with tables seating ten going for $1,500.
A full list (excluding nominees listed below) of nominees can be seen here.
Check out the list below to see the most recent additions to the 2025 nominees:
Chef of the Year
Mauricio Arizola (Senor Aji Peruvian Kitchen)
Porfirio Aldape (Yosemite Ranch)
Tommy Chavez (13 Prime Steak, Yolked Kitchen)
Jimmy Pardini (The Annex Kitchen)
Restaurateur of the Year
David Fansler (Fansler Restaurant Group)
Brandon Smittcamp (The Lime Lite)
Ryan Jackson (School House Restaurant & Tavern)
John & Falina Marihart (13 Prime Steak, Yolked Kitchen)
Rising Star
Lilian Arizola (Senor Aji Peruvian Kitchen)
Nestor Herrera (The Annex Kitchen)
Josh Weber (Westwoods BBQ & Spice Co.)
Cassandra Phillips (Ovidio’s Italian Restaurant)
People’s Choice (live voting the night of)
13 Prime Steak
Annesso Pizzeria
Sabor Cocina Latina & Bar
Oak Hill Wine & Bistro
Beverage Supplier of the Year
Valley Wide Beverage
Reyes Coca-Cola
Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits
Republic National Distributing Company
Supplier of the Year
Performance Foodservice
Sysco
JD Foods
US Foods
