Press Releases

MONTEREY, Calif. - June 22, 2006 - Ted Balestreri and Bert Cutino, founders and proprietors of the Sardine Factory in Monterey, California, have been named 2006 Fine Dining Legends by Nation's Restaurant News, the foodservice industry's leading news publication. The Fine Dining Legend Award singles out individuals who have made extraordinary contributions of time, energy, and talent to the restaurant industry, devoting their lives to creating restaurants, menus, and service standards that epitomize the fine dining experience.

Balestreri and Cutino were honored May 21 in Chicago, where elite members of the fine dining world gathered at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel for the annual Fine Dining Hall of Fame Awards Luncheon, one of the most exclusive events in the foodservice industry. Also honored at the luncheon were 2006 inductees into the Fine Dining Hall of Fame-an award bestowed upon the Sardine Factory in 1981.

Balestreri and Cutino have received countless honors throughout their careers, becoming two of America's most prominent restaurateurs. In 2003 Balestreri won Nation's Restaurant News' coveted Pioneer Award, recognizing his innovation and leadership. Currently, Balestreri is Chief Executive Officer of the Sardine Factory and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Cannery Row Company and Foursome Development Company. He presided over the California Restaurant Association from 1983-1984 and chaired the National Restaurant Association from 1985-1986.

Cutino is Chief Operating Officer of the Sardine Factory and a partner in the Cannery Row Company and Foursome Development Company. From 1995-1999 he chaired the American Academy of Chefs (AAC), the prestigious honor society of the American Culinary Federation. This October, Cutino will be honored with the AAC's Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest award given to any individual for outstanding contribution to the culinary profession and to the future of young culinarians

Balestreri and Cutino opened the Sardine Factory in 1968, instigating the revitalization of Cannery Row. Today the Sardine Factory is perhaps the most award-winning restaurant in California, recently receiving the Best Wine List in America award from Restaurant Hospitality magazine. To learn more about the Sardine Factory, please visit www.sardinefactory.com or call 831.373.3775. For information about Nation's Restaurant News, visit www.nrn.com.

The Sardine Factory, established in 1968, combines fresh seafood, USDA Prime meats, and produce with impeccable service, an award-winning wine cellar, and four distinct dining rooms. Promising guests the dining experience of a lifetime, the restaurant has received the Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRoNA) Award and Wine Spectator's Grand Award, among many other honors. The Sardine Factory is located on historic Cannery Row at 701 Wave Street in Monterey. For more information visit www.sardinefactory.com or call 831.373.3775.