The 2026 GOLDEN FORK Awards
The 2026 Golden Fork Awards are here, and it’s time to honor the best of what I tasted over the past 12 months. This year’s celebration also marks my 11th anniversary since starting this incredible journey to discover and spotlight the most memorable dishes across Vero Beach and the Treasure Coast.
Last year was an exciting and productive one for us at The Treasure Coast Foodie, with over 16 events hosted across the region, including wine education classes, cooking classes, and a mouthwatering Smoke & Sizzle Pitmasters Table event featuring Pepper & Salt BBQ’s grilled tomahawk steaks. We filmed Season 5 of Holy Grail Eats, our foodie show spotlighting six more incredible local restaurants. Season 6 begins filming this April and will be released in Summer 2026! A special thank you to Visit Indian River County for continuing to support our vision and help us showcase the area’s top culinary talent. We also expanded our coverage footprint by hiring two new food bloggers, Gabriela (Melbourne & Palm Bay) and Sabrina (Jupiter), who have been busy highlighting top spots across the Treasure Coast since January 2025. Lisa Hastings remains an integral part of our team, continuing her popular wine education experiences, with her next event at Johnny D’s on Saturday, February 21st. And I recently welcomed a new blogger in the Vero Beach area to help write articles and coordinate upcoming events as we grow.
That excitement all led up to the 2026 Golden Fork Awards, which took place just two nights ago. This signature event honored the very best in the Treasure Coast’s culinary world—recognizing the standout restaurants, chefs, and dishes that defined the past year. If you weren’t able to attend, we’re excited to share the winners and showcase the incredible talent and flavors that made this night so memorable.
Now, on to the awards! Let’s dive right in and reveal this year’s winners. Below you’ll find my Top 10 Best Dishes of the Year (in no particular order), along with my picks for Chef of the Year, Restaurant of the Year, and the People’s Choice winners. All selections were made based on our reviews and dining experiences throughout 2025.
Top 10 Best Dishes
Plant-Based Chocolate Ganache Tart
by Counter Culture Beachside – Vero Beach, FL
Classic Glazed Donut
by Daddy’s Donuts – Vero Beach, FL
Steak Diane
by Dinner Revolution- Vero Beach, FL
Shrimp & Grits
by Island Pig & Fish – Port St Lucie, FL
Lobster Roll
by Mai Thai Bistro – Vero Beach, FL
OG Burger
by Quik Snak – Vero Beach, FL
Garlic Shrimp Appetizer
by Taj Mahal Masala – Vero Beach, FL
Classic Tacos
by Tequila Azteca Mexican Restaurant – Vero Beach, FL
Crispy Chicken Sandwich
by The Padel Grille – Vero Beach, FL
The Godfather
by Surf Subs – Vero Beach, FL
and the Chef of the Year award goes to. . .
Pastry Chef Paty Prato
Butter Cup Bakery Cafe – Vero Beach, FL
This year’s pick for Chef of the Year may be a little unconventional—but I have no doubt it’s the right choice. Pastry Chef Paty Prato of Butter Cup Bakery Cafe joined the team just last year, and in that short time, she’s completely transformed their dessert offerings. Her creations aren’t just visually stunning—they’re absolutely delicious. Her passion and creativity shine through in every bite, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed; one of her desserts was even featured on the cover of Vero Beach Magazine. I’ve photographed and tasted many of her sweet masterpieces, and they never fail to impress. What’s funny is, I’ve admired her work for months—but hadn’t officially met her until the night of the awards. It was my pleasure and honor to finally meet her in person and present her with this well-deserved recognition.
and the Restaurant of the Year award goes to. . .
Farm & Flame – Vero Beach, FL
This year, choosing the Restaurant of the Year was surprisingly easy. While this honor usually goes to an established favorite that’s been serving the community for years, we’re switching things up this year. This time, we’re recognizing a brand-new restaurant—open for less than six months—that was built entirely from the ground up. With a clean slate, the owners brought their full vision to life, and the results are impressive. From my very first visit, I was struck by the thoughtfully designed ambiance, polished service, and food that far exceeded expectations for a newcomer. Then came our most recent foodie meetup, where they truly delivered. The feedback was unanimous—guests were raving about the food and couldn’t wait to return. Backed by a team that already runs another successful restaurant in town, this new concept is off to a phenomenal start. While they weren’t able to attend the ceremony due to the usual new-restaurant growing pains, it’s still my pleasure to recognize their incredible achievement. Please join me in celebrating the 2026 Golden Fork Restaurant of the Year: Farm & Flame!
and the People’s Choice award goes to. . .
For the first time in Golden Fork Awards history, the People’s Choice honor resulted in a tie. With 25 votes each, we made the decision to recognize both winners for their outstanding contributions to the evening. Congratulations to Taj Mahal Masala and Pastry Chef Paty Prato of Butter Cup Bakery Café, who captured the hearts (and forks) of our guests. We’ll be creating an additional Golden Fork Award for Taj Mahal Masala and delivering it very soon. A well-deserved congratulations to both for earning this special recognition!
What’s next for the rest of 2026-2027?
I believe it’s time for a bold new direction for the Golden Fork Awards. With a talented team now supporting The Treasure Coast Foodie, the spotlight isn’t just on me anymore—it’s about a collective passion for discovering and celebrating the best in our local food scene. I’ve got some big ideas brewing for next year’s event, and while I’m not ready to reveal them just yet… you’ll just have to stick around and keep following us to find out!
