The Connecticut Restaurant & Hospitality Association has announced the first four honorees for its annual CRAZIES awards, along with finalists in 17 categories whose winners will be determined by public voting.
The association will present the awards Monday, Dec. 7, at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard. Public voting closes Nov. 29.
Charles Mallory, founder of Greenwich Hospitality Group, will receive the hotelier of the year award. Mallory left a career in shipping to open Delamar Greenwich Harbor in 2002. He has since expanded the brand to Southport, West Hartford, Mystic, Westport and Traverse City, Michigan.
The company operates six hotels, five of them in Connecticut, each paired with a full-service restaurant.
Yuta Kamori, co-founder of New Haven-based Hachiroku Hospitality Group, was named restaurateur of the year. Kamori first built a bento and Japanese grocery business before opening Hachiroku Shokudo & Saké Bar on Orange Street in 2022. The group later opened Hachiroku Handroll Bar & Tapas in New Haven’s East Rock neighborhood.
The Vanilla Bean Café in Pomfret will be inducted into the Connecticut Hospitality Hall of Fame. The Jessurun family has operated the café from a restored 19th-century barn at the junction of routes 44, 169 and 97 since 1989. The business has since expanded with sister restaurants in Putnam, Storrs and Mansfield.
State Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) will receive the friend of the industry award.
The association also announced finalists in 17 competitive categories, including chef and pastry chef of the year and restaurant of the year in each of Connecticut’s eight counties. Unlike the four honorees, who are selected by the association, winners in those categories will be determined by a public vote.
Several Greater Hartford businesses are among the finalists.
The Foundry in Hartford, The Laurel and Gveenah in West Hartford, and Max A Mia in Avon are finalists for Hartford County restaurant of the year. Vaughan’s Public House in Hartford is a finalist for bar and beverage team of the year, while Máncora Restobar in Hartford and George’s Pizza & Restaurant in Unionville are people’s choice finalists.
Mozz & Co. in West Hartford is a finalist for restaurant newcomer. Millwright’s in Simsbury and Casadoro Ristorante & Bar in Newington are finalists for service team of the year.
City Fish Market in Wethersfield and Mattress Concierge in Hartford are finalists for vendor of the year, while Ani’s Table & Marketplace in Rocky Hill is a caterer of the year finalist.
