While the Bay Area food world steps up to help feed the people displaced by the deadly Northern California fires, the Golden Gate Restaurant Association (GGRA) has announced the full slate nominees for all categories in its second annual Saucy Awards, bestowed upon outstanding chefs, restaurateurs, employees, and restaurants to honor the region’s culinary excellence. 

“In addition to supporting relief efforts, we at the GGRA think it’s important to honor the achievements of the chefs, managers, and suppliers who have built the Bay Area’s world-class culinary community,” Gwyneth Borden, the executive director of the GGRA, said. “And we’re honored to announce the nominees for this year’s second annual Saucy Awards. I hope these awards will be an uplifting note during trying time.”

In that spirit, on Monday, Nov. 6, the Herbst Theater will host the gala dinner, at which winners will take home copper Williams Sonoma sauce pans for all 21 categories. (Tickets here.) In addition to awards for Rising Star Chef, Best Pastry Chef, and Exceptional Fast-Casual Restaurant of the Year, several categories are new. All GGRA member restaurants — along any non-member nominee — may rank the votes for the winners. 

Along with Marcy Coburn of CUESA, Marcia Gagliardi of Tablehopper, and food journalists Virginia Miller and Joel Riddell, I sat on the steering committee, which was tasked with winnowing down the nominees to four per category. Accolades aren’t entirely out of the public’s hands, however. You can also vote for the​ ​People’s​ ​Choice​ ​Award​.

See the full list of nominees below, and last year’s winners here.

Chef​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Year​ ​presented​ ​by​ ​OpenTable

Jordan Keao of ‘aina

Stuart Brioza of The Progress

Srijith Gopinathan of Taj Campton Place

Melissa Perello of Octavia and Frances

Pastry​ ​Chef​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Year​ ​presented​ ​by​ ​Williams​ ​Sonoma​ ​Professional​ ​Chefs

Lori Baker of Bluestem Brasserie

Sarah Bonar of Octavia

Sarah Rich of Rich Table

Julie Vandermeersch of Vive La Tarte

Rising​ ​Star​ ​Chef​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Year​ ​presented​ ​by​ ​TriMark

Adam Tortosa of Robin

Audie Golder of Jardinière

Rachel Aronow of The Alembic

Gaby Maeda of State Bird Provisions

Sous​ ​Chef​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Year​ ​presented​ ​by​ ​Cayson​ ​Designs

Chris Yang of āina

Sam Sito of China Live

Jeff Bloam of Mezcalito

Christian Reynoso of Zuni Cafe

Restaurateur​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Year​ ​presented​ ​by​ ​OpenTable

Ryan Cole & Jason Halverson of Hi Neighbor Hospitality Group

Traci Des Jardins of Jardinière and Mijita Cocina Mexicana; chef/partner of Public House, The Commissary, and

Arguello

Adriano Paganini of Back of the House Inc.

Evan & Sarah Rich of Rich Table & RT Rotisserie

Beverage​ ​Professional​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Year

Brandon Clements of The Saratoga

Danny Louie of Mister Jiu’s

Ilya Romanov of The Dorian

Thad Vogler of Trou Normand, Bar Agricole, and the soon-to-open Obispo rum bar

Employee​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Year​ ​presented​ ​by​ ​Pared

Stuart Furtwangler of Fogo de Chao

Felipe Cardenas of Souvla

Jeanine Gade-Anderson of Pizzeria Delfina Mission, Delfina Restaurant Group

Su Q. Xu of SCOMA’S

Manager​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Year​ ​presented​ ​by​ ​Miller​ ​Law​ ​Group

Andrew Ghetia of 4505 Burgers & BBQ

Amy Svendberg of Poggio

Jonny Gilbert of Rich Table / RT Rotisserie

Vinny Eng of Tartine

Outstanding​ ​Industry​ ​Service​ ​Provider

Georgopoulos and Economidis, LLP

Cayson Designs

Pared

Poached Jobs

Outstanding​ ​Industry​ ​Service​ ​Supplier

BiRite Foodservice

California Caviar Company

Gulfish

Villa Italia

Exceptional​ ​Full-Service​ ​Restaurant​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Year​ ​presented​ ​by​ ​Georgopoulos​ ​&​ ​Economidis​ ​LLP

Acquerello

Foreign Cinema

Mourad

Perbacco

Exceptional​ ​Fast-Casual​ ​Restaurant​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Year

4505 Burgers & BBQ

Media Noche

Namu Stonepot

RT Rotisserie

Exceptional​ ​Non-Brick​ ​&​ ​Mortar​ ​Restaurant​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Year

Componere Fine Catering

Kantine

Pinoy Heritage SF

Rice Paper Scissors

Exceptional​ ​Specialty​ ​Food​ ​Establishment​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Year

Powder

The Mill

Snowbird Coffee

Vive La Tarte

Wine​ ​Program​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Year

Birba

Saison

Tartine Manufactory

The Riddler

Cocktail​ ​Program​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Year

August 1 Five

Benjamin Cooper

Foreign Cinema

Pacific Cocktail Haven

Beer​ ​Program​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Year

Barrel Head Brewhouse

Buffalo Theory

Fat Angel

Old Devil Moon

Sustainable​ ​Restaurant​ ​or​ ​Bar​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Year​ ​presented​ ​by​ ​Recology

Bluestem

Cliff House

Jardinière

SCOMA’S Restaurant

Community​ ​Spirit​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Year​ ​presented​ ​by​ ​Comcast​ ​Business

4505 Meats

Stones Throw

Wing Wings

Zingari Ristorante

Golden Gate Restaurant Association’s Second Annual Saucy Awards, Monday, Nov. 6, 7 p.m., at the Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Ave., $149; ggra.org/the-saucy-awards/