Afrigather 
(RestaurantNews.com) On Tuesday, September 27, 2022, the Georgia Restaurant Affiliation (GRA) introduced the winners of their Restaurant Affiliation Crystal of Excellence (GRACE) Awards. All finalists are peer-nominated, making certain essentially the most deserving within the business are acknowledged. Winners are chosen by the GRACE Academy, comprised of former GRACE finalists and honorees in addition to present GRA Board members.
Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant house owners took dwelling two of those prestigious awards, together with Restaurant Supervisor of the Yr (Pepe Fundora) and the Corridor of Fame award (the late Tony Fondora):
Restaurant Supervisor of the Yr Jose “Pepe” Fundora
2022’s Restaurant Supervisor of the Yr attributes his love of hospitality to his dad and mom whereas rising up within the restaurant enterprise. Having labored within the business for twenty-four years, he’s the co-owner of his household’s restaurant in addition to a licensed sommelier. He believes that nothing is inconceivable by way of laborious work and by taking dangers, you will notice outcomes. Such is true with serving friends with grace and a smile as they select to return repeatedly to dine and have a good time particular events.
Pepe can also be proprietor of Cork & Glass Wine Shop. Pepe is accredited by way of The Court docket of Grasp Sommeliers (Stage 1 in 2016; Stage 2 {Licensed Sommelier} in 2018) and is presently learning to turn out to be an Superior Sommelier (Stage 3) and finally will end at Grasp Sommelier (Stage 4) sooner or later. Pepe works to carry his ardour of wine to others with the thought of “Making Wine Accessible”.
Corridor of Fame – Mario Antonio “Tony” Fundora
The GRACE Academy is honored to incorporate Tony Fundora within the GRACE Awards Corridor of Fame posthumously. Fundora left a legacy of hospitality and group service within the Atlanta metro meals scene. Initially immigrating from Cuba in 1962, he opened quite a few eating places with the love of his life and spouse Maria at his facet. In 1998, they constructed their dream restaurant Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant in Alpharetta. Fundora unfold his love for meals by sharing it with the group. His ardour for contemporary meals impressed him to develop his personal fruits, greens, and flowers on his farm in North Fulton, which he liked sharing with everybody that got here to the restaurant. He would say “I’m not higher than anybody else as they’re no higher than me. And everybody on this world deserves respect and kindness.”
In regards to the GRA: The GRA’s mission is to function the voice for Georgia’s Eating places in Advocacy, Schooling and Consciousness. The GRA is sanctioned by the Nationwide Restaurant Affiliation (NRA) to function Georgia’s solely not-for-profit representing the state’s foodservice business. From massive chains to start-ups, the GRA helps make Georgia a greater place for eating places to do enterprise and helps make eating places higher for Georgia. For extra info, go to garestaurants.org.
The GRACE Awards Gala, an inclusive occasion honoring those that have made excellent contributions to Georgia’s restaurant business, happened on the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta and awarded Restaurateur of the Yr, Trade Accomplice of the Yr, Hospitality Hero of the Yr (previously Distinguished Service), Restaurant Supervisor of the Yr, Restaurant Worker of the Yr and ProStart® Scholar of the Yr. New to 2022, the GRA added Restaurateur Rookie of the Yr and the GRA Corridor of Fame in addition to a brand new class nominated and voted on by the Georgia restaurant group – “Georgia On My Thoughts” Folks’s Selection Awards.
“Whereas Georgia’s eating places are nonetheless recovering from the pandemic, the GRACE Awards Gala is a chance to shine a highlight on the unimaginable people and corporations that created a extra hospitable and acquainted world throughout probably the most difficult durations in latest reminiscence,” mentioned Karen Bremer, President + CEO of the Georgia Restaurant Affiliation. “Our business epitomizes resilience.”
For extra info, go to garestaurants.org/grace.
Comply with Pepe:
TikTok: @corkandglass
Instagram: @pepeasomm
Fb: @corkandglass
- Extra from Casa Nuova
