The Fresno Chapter of the California Restaurant Association will present the Lifetime Achievement Award to Sam Toledo at the 2026 Best of the Valley Restaurant Awards. The event, scheduled for March 24, 2026, at Table Mountain Casino Resort in Friant, California, will also recognize Hall of Fame inductees Bob Farrar, Franco Paolili, and Virginia Paolili.
The Best of the Valley Restaurant Awards has been recognizing notable restaurants in Central Valley for over three decades. Each year, awards are given across multiple categories to honor local dining establishments. Nominations for the 2026 awards opened on January 1 and are chosen by both restaurateurs and members of the dining community.
Tickets for the event are available to both the public and media. Press members interested in attending can contact Jessica Roots at 916.431.2765 or jroots@calrest.org.
According to the California Restaurant Association (CRA), it provides resources and support to help neighborhood restaurants operate successfully while contributing to their communities. The association notes that restaurants in California generate more than $200 billion in sales annually and employ nearly 1.4 million workers, making them a major part of the state’s economy.
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