News
Opinion
ENLARGE
TAHOE/TRUCKEE — It's no secret the economy has been challenging of late, and our many businesses in the Truckee/North Tahoe area have felt the recession's pinch. But it's because of this why we take our annual Best Of contest seriously, and we feel it's more important than ever to highlight the people, businesses, places and things that make Truckee/Tahoe a great place to live, work and play.
So here they are: the best of the best, the créme de la créme, the cream of the crop — the 2011 Best of North Tahoe & Truckee winners.
As you look below at all 68 winners in the categories of Best People, Best Food and Drink, Best Busi ness and Best Places/Events, remember that it was you, our readers, who made this happen by voting on our online-only contest, a three-week period of submissions from our locals and visitors. In all, we had 346 people log into the contest and enter a whopping 6,550 submissions for our 68 categories. Quite the impressive turnout.
As you'll see, the entire Truckee/North Tahoe area is well represented among the lists, proving what makes the entire region so special — all our little and big communities, from Homewood to Carnelian Bay to Incline Village to Truckee, and everywhere in between, are defined by their own uniqueness.
It's also a testament to the businesses and people who won this year — and for the countless more who fell just short. Without the tireless dedication you all put into enhancing and defining the lifestyle we all enjoy while living and playing in the region, well, Truckee/Tahoe would certainly look a lot different.
So we say congrats to all the honorees and runners-up on your much-deserved honors. Your hard work and efforts make Truckee/Tahoe truly a great place.
— The staffs of the Sierra Sun and North Lake Tahoe Bonanza.
So here they are: the best of the best, the créme de la créme, the cream of the crop — the 2011 Best of North Tahoe & Truckee winners.
As you look below at all 68 winners in the categories of Best People, Best Food and Drink, Best Busi ness and Best Places/Events, remember that it was you, our readers, who made this happen by voting on our online-only contest, a three-week period of submissions from our locals and visitors. In all, we had 346 people log into the contest and enter a whopping 6,550 submissions for our 68 categories. Quite the impressive turnout.
As you'll see, the entire Truckee/North Tahoe area is well represented among the lists, proving what makes the entire region so special — all our little and big communities, from Homewood to Carnelian Bay to Incline Village to Truckee, and everywhere in between, are defined by their own uniqueness.
It's also a testament to the businesses and people who won this year — and for the countless more who fell just short. Without the tireless dedication you all put into enhancing and defining the lifestyle we all enjoy while living and playing in the region, well, Truckee/Tahoe would certainly look a lot different.
So we say congrats to all the honorees and runners-up on your much-deserved honors. Your hard work and efforts make Truckee/Tahoe truly a great place.
— The staffs of the Sierra Sun and North Lake Tahoe Bonanza.
2011 Best Of contest winners
BEST FOOD AND DRINK
Best Happy Hour 1. Cottonwood Restaurant & Bar (Truckee) 2. River Grill (Tahoe City) 3. Lakeside Pizza (Tahoe City) Best Breakfast 1. Fire Sign Café (Sunnyside) 2. Squeeze Inn (Truckee) 3. Old Post Office Cafe (Carnelian Bay) Best Fine Dining 1. Cottonwood Restaurant & Bar (Truckee) 2. Wolfdale's Restaurant (Tahoe City) 3. Pianeta Ristorante (Truckee) Best Barbecue 1. Smokey's Kitchen (Truckee) 2. T's Mesquite Rotisserie (Incline Village) 3. Char-Pit (Kings Beach) Best Bar 1. Cottonwood Restaurant & Bar (Truckee) 2. Lakeside Pizza (Tahoe City) 3. Pete N' Peters (Tahoe City) Best Outdoor Dining 1. Cottonwood Restaurant & Bar (Truckee) 2. Sunnyside Restaurant (Sunnyside) 3. Lakeside Pizza (Tahoe City) Best Restaurant View 1. Cottonwood Restaurant & Bar (Truckee) 2. Sunnyside Restaurant (Sunnyside) 3. Lone Eagle Grille (Incline Village) Best Fast Food 1. Burger Me (Truckee) 2. Bill's Rotisserie (Truckee) 3. T's Mesquite Rotisserie (Incline Village) Best Sushi 1. Mamasake (Olympic Valley) t-3. Dragonfly Restaurant (Truckee) t-3. Drunken Monkey (Truckee) Best Bakery 1. Tahoe House Bakery & Gourmet (Tahoe City) 2. Treat Box Bakery (Truckee) 3. Coffeebar (Truckee) Best Burger 1. Burger Me (Truckee) 2. Cottonwood Restaurant & Bar (Truckee) 3. The Bridgetender (Tahoe City) Best Asian Food 1. Dragonfly Restaurant (Truckee) 2. Mamasake (Olympic Valley) 3. Thai Nakorn (Truckee) Best Deli 1. Full Belly Deli (Truckee) 2. Safeway (Kings Beach, Tahoe City, Truckee) 3. Tahoe House Bakery & Gourmet (Tahoe City) Best Expresso/Coffee 1. Coffeebar (Truckee) 2. Tahoe House Bakery & Gourmet (Tahoe City) 3. Wild Cherries Coffee House (Truckee) Best Mexican Food 1. Tacos Jalisco (Kings Beach) 2. Hacienda de la Sierra (Incline Village) 3. Las Panchitas (Kings Beach) Best Vegetarian/Natural Food 1. New Moon Natural Foods (Tahoe City, Truckee) 2. Uncommon Kitchen (Tahoe City) 3. Mamasake (Olympic Valley) Best Pizza 1. Best Pies Pizzeria and Restaurant (Truckee) 2. Lakeside Pizza (Tahoe City) 3. Front Street Station Pizza (Tahoe City) Best Ice Cream 1. Susie Scoops (Incline Village) 2. Tootsie's (Tahoe City) 3. Coffeebar (Truckee) ------------------------------ BEST BUSINESS Best Gallery 1. Gallery Keoki (Olympic Valley) 2. The Carmel Gallery (Truckee) 3. Riverside Studios (Truckee) Best Ski/Board Shop 1. Porters Sports (Tahoe City, Truckee) 2. Tahoe Dave's Skis and Boards (Kings Beach, Tahoe City, Olympic Valley) 3. Village Ski Loft (Incline Village) Best Sporting Goods 1. Porters Sports (Tahoe City, Truckee) 2. Mountain Ace Hardware & Sports (Truckee) 3. Village Ski Loft (Incline Village) Best Catering 1. D'Lish Catering Co. (Tahoe City) 2. Moody's Bistro (Truckee) 3. Full Belly Deli (Truckee) Best Casino 1. Crystal Bay Club (Crystal Bay) t-2. Hyatt (Incline Village) t-2. Biltmore (Crystal Bay) Best Fitness Club 1. A Sante Lakeside Fitness (Tahoe City) 2. High Altitude Fitness (Incline Village) 3. Performance Training Center by Julia Mancuso (Tahoe City, Olympic Valley, Truckee) Best Garden Supply/Nursery 1. Villager Nursery (Truckee) 2. Tahoe Tree Co. (Tahoe City) 3. Perennial Nursery & Landscape (Tahoe Vista) Best Bank 1. Bank of the West (various locations) 2. Plumas Bank (various locations) t-3. US Bank (various locations) t-3. Wells Fargo (various locations) Best Gift Shop 1. Village Toys (Incline Village) 2. The Potlatch (Incline Village) 3. Four tied for third. Best Landscape Company 1. Rock & Rose Inc. (Truckee) t-2. Blide Landscaping (Truckee) t-2. Green Envy Inc. (Tahoe City) t-2. Perennial Best Tattoo 1. Lucky 7 Tattoo (Kings Beach) 2. Truth Tattoo (Truckee) Best Veterinary Clinic 1. Sierra Pet Clinic (Truckee) 2. Burton Creek Veterinary Clinic (Tahoe City) 3. Pet Network Humane Society (Incline Village) Best Auto Shop 1. The Auto & Tire Doctor (Truckee) t-2. Big Bear Automotive Repair (Tahoe City) t-2. Stone's Country Tire & Automotive (Kings Beach, Truckee) t-2. Ward and Sons Automotive (Truckee) Best Clothing Store t-1. Dressed Boutique (Truckee) t-1. Mo, Jo and Zoe (Truckee) t-2. Cabona's Clothing (Truckee) t-2. Fine N Funky Clothiers (Tahoe City) Best Marina 1. Tahoe City Marina 2. Obexer's Boat Company (Homewood) 3. Beach Club Marina (Tahoe Donner) Best Bike Shop t-1. The Backcountry (Sunnyside-Tahoe City, Truckee) t-1. Paco's Truckee Bike & Ski (Truckee) 2. Olympic Bike Shop (Tahoe City) Best Nail Salon 1. Sassy Nails & Spa (Truckee) 2. T & T Nails (Truckee) 3. Exotic Nails (Tahoe City) Best Hair Salon 1. Urban Angels Salon (Truckee) 2. Studio 89 Hair Salon (Homewood) 3. Salon Bella Vita (Tahoe City) Best Massage 1. Clearwater Day Spa at Tahoe (Tahoe City) 2. Gem Mountain Massage (Truckee) 3. Trilogy Spa (Olympic Valley) Best Martial Arts 1. Tahoe City Martial Arts Academy (Tahoe City) 2. Charles Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy of Truckee-Tahoe (Truckee) Best Golf Course t-1. Northstar-at-Tahoe t-1. Ponderosa Golf Course (Truckee) t-1 Tahoe City Golf Course Best Nonprofit 1. Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe 2. High Fives Nonprofit Foundation t-3. Boys and Girls Club of North Tahoe t-3. Pet Network Humane Society ------------- BEST PEOPLE Best Bank Teller 1. Jan Close (Bank of the West, Tahoe City) 2. Lisa Fox (Bank of the West, Tahoe City) 3. Six tied for third Best Bartender t-1. Dennis Alexander (Mamasake, Olympic Valley) t-1 Sarah Hodson (Lakeside Pizza, Tahoe City) 2. Christopher St. Martin (Cottonwood Restaurant & Bar, Truckee) Best Barista 1. Stephanie McDonald (Tahoe House Bakery & Gourmet, Tahoe City) 2. Greg Buchesiter (Coffeebar, Truckee) t-3. Jeremy Frazier (Wild Cherries Coffee House, Truckee) t-3. Beck Gallaher (Starbucks, Incline Village) Best Wait Person 1. Kaitlyn Harrah (Cottonwood Restaurant & Bar, Truckee) 2. Shannon McKee (Lakeside Pizza, Tahoe City) t-3. Alicia Deaderick (JAX at the Tracks, Truckee) t-3. Leah Alfano (Cottonwood Restaurant & Bar, Truckee) Best Hair Stylist 1. Ali Gonzales (Studio 89, Homewood) t-2. Jessica Garcia (Balcony Hair & Nail Salon, Tahoe City) t-2. Lindsey Shontz (Urban Angels Salon, Truckee) t-2. Michelle Prado (Urban Angels Salon, Truckee) t-2. Nicholas Augustine (Sierra Bella Luxury Salon, Incline Village) Best Auto Mechanic 1. David Ward (Ward and Sons Automotive, Truckee) t-2. Brian Devlin (Tahoe City Auto Repair) t-2. Jeff Schaff (Jeff Schaff's Car Care, Truckee) t-2. Mark Pearson (Big Bear Automotive Repair, Tahoe City) t-2. Rigo Garcia (Tanager Street Auto, Incline Village) Best Massage Therapist 1 Jamie Gemme (Gem Mountain Massage, Truckee) 2. Jodi Hubbell (Glow Salon, Truckee) t-3. Karen Stubbs (Karen D. Stubbs, L.M.T., Truckee) t-3. Mary Beth Hamilton (Full Circle Movement, Truckee) Best Chef 1. David Smith (Cottonwood Restaurant & Bar, Truckee) 2. Elsa Corrigan (Mamasake, Olympic Valley) 3. Mark Estee (Moody's Bistro, Baxter's Bistro & Lounge, Truckee) Best Teacher t-1. Milt Hyams (Incline High School) t-1. Vicki Isacowitz (Clever Minds Learning Center, Truckee) 2. Nine teachers tied for second. Best Volunteer 1. Alanna Hughes t-2. Aaron Gaines t-2. Carol Fromson t-2. Dick and Nileta Morton t-2. Steve Wallace Best Ski Patroller 1. Jimmy Roberts (Sugar Bowl Ski Resort) 2. Five tied for second Best Boss 1. Mike Blide (Cottonwood Restaurant & Bar, Truckee) t-2. Brian Beehleer (Lakeside Pizza, Tahoe City) t-2. Dr. Jonathan Smith (optometrist, Incline Village) t-2. Jim Sturtevant (Tahoe Forest Hospital) Best Local Artist 1. Sara Zimmerman 2. Lorien Powers 3. Andrew Bolam Best Local Musician t-1. Dead Winter Carpenters t-1. Jeff Jones t-1. Kandy Xander --------------- BEST PLACES/EVENTS Best Summer Event 1. Truckee Thursdays 2. Wanderlust California 3. Red, White and Tahoe Blue Best Winter Event 1. SnowFest! 2. Daron Rahlves Banzai Tour 3. The Great Ski Race Best Concert Venue 1. Truckee Regional Park Amphitheater 2. Crystal Bay Club Crown Room 3. Commons Beach Best Beach 1. Sand Harbor 2. Kings Beach 3. Speedboat Beach/Bucks Beach Best Place to Boat 1. Lake Tahoe 2. Emerald Bay 3. Donner Lake Best Place to Ski/Ride 1. Squaw Valley USA 2. Alpine Meadows/Homewood Mountain resorts 3. Northstar-at-Tahoe Best Place to Golf 1. Ponderosa Golf Course t-2. Coyote Moon Golf Course t-2 Northstar-at-Tahoe Best Place to Hike 1. Tahoe Rim Trail 2. Shirley Canyon 3. Donner Summit/Pacific Crest Trail Best Place to Fish 1. Truckee River 2. Donner Lake 3. Little Truckee River Best Place to Bike t-1. Northstar-at-Tahoe t-1. Tahoe Rim Trail 2. Tahoe City Trail along Truckee River Best Place to Camp 1. Jackson Meadows 2. Emerald Bay Boat-in Camp 3. D.L. Bliss State Park Best Place to Picnic 1. Donner Lake t-2. Sugar Pine State Park t-2. Truckee River Best Place to Take a Date 1. Cottonwood Restaurant & Bar (Truckee) 2. Soule Domain (Crystal Bay) 3. Pianeta Ristorante (Truckee) Best Place to People Watch 1. Truckee Thursdays 2. Squaw Village 3. Sunday concerts at Commons Beach |
