Welcome to San Benito’s best
We asked and you answered. This year more than 600 ballots were
submitted by readers of the Weekend Pinnacle in the 2008 Pinnacle
Awards. That’s three times as many as our inaugural contest in
2007, and many of the votes this year were cast online at
www.pinnaclenews.com.
After crunching the numbers
– it takes hours and hours to make sure every vote counts – we
learned a little more about the county we all love so much.
Welcome to San Benito’s best
We asked and you answered. This year more than 600 ballots were submitted by readers of the Weekend Pinnacle in the 2008 Pinnacle Awards. That’s three times as many as our inaugural contest in 2007, and many of the votes this year were cast online at www.pinnaclenews.com.
After crunching the numbers – it takes hours and hours to make sure every vote counts – we learned a little more about the county we all love so much.
We learned that once again Pinnacles National Monument is a favorite place for sight-seeing and Mission San Juan is a close second. We also saw that San Benitoites are very passionate about their pizza – the category garnered the most responses with nearly 350 votes. And we learned that backyard swimming pools must be rare around the county because pool service got the fewest votes.
In some categories, such as best tri-tip, a select few options rose to the top, but in others the responses were many and varied. In best employer, we received more than 60 nominations.
Your votes represent more than a list. Together, they form a comprehensive insider’s guide to a very special place – San Benito County.
The winner and runner-up in each category follow, but we also encourage you to look at the highlights we provide throughout of some of the winners as well as our staff favorites.
To make it easier to navigate, the list is broken into three categories: “Best eats,” “Best services” and “Best activities.”
Best eats
Special occasion restaurant
1. Tres Pinos Inn
2. Paine’s Restaurant and Bar
Bar food
1. Cheap Seats
2. Johnny’s Bar and Grill
Mexican food
1. Progresso Tamale Parlor
2. Dona Esther Mexican Restaurant
Pizza
1. Round Table
2. Papa Murphy’s
Chinese
1. Happy Cafe
2. Cheung Sheng
Japanese/sushi
1. A-J Sushi
2. Miyako’s
Diner
1. Hard Times Cafe
2. Jerry’s
Bakery
1. Elegant Touch
2. Safeway
Donut
1. Spudnuts
2. Donuts and Deli
Breakfast
1. Country Rose Cafe
2. Cozy Cup
Burger
1. Running Rooster
2. Cheap Seats
Deli/Sandwich shop
1. Elegant Touch
2. Running Rooster
Dessert
1. Elegant Touch
2. Maverick’s
Bar
1. Johnny’s Bar and Grill
2. Cheap Seats
Winery
1. Leal Vineyards
2. Pietra Santa
Cup of coffee
1. Starbucks
2. Java Express
Tri-tip sandwich
1. Dunneville Store
2. Mansmith’s
Local grower
1. Swank Farms
2. Bertuccio’s/ Joe Tonascia
Caterer
1. Maverick’s
2. Victoria’s Deli
Waiter/waitress
1. Susan Freitas
2. Suzi King
Bartender
1. Carlette Barker
2. Nick Bakich
Roadside fruit stand
1. Bertuccio’s
2. Swank Farms
Grocery store/supermarket
1. Safeway
2. Nob Hill
Corner market
1. Brother’s/Hollister Drive-in
2. Dunneville Store
Organic products
1. Swank Farms
1. Pinnacle Organic/Phil Foster
Produce
1. Hollister Super
2. Nob Hill
Meats
1. Nob Hill
2. Safeway
Wine selection
1. Nob Hill
2. Safeway
Best services
Local band
1. Sake Bombs
2. Soul Kiss
Horse Trainer
1. Heidi Gaian
2. Paula Rodrigues
Employer
1. Richard McAbee
2. Greenwood Chevrolet/Marty Greenwood
Attorney
1. Bill Marder
2. Paul Balbas
Peace officer
1. Ray Wood
2. David Blair
Ranch/farm supplier
1. Rancher’s Feed
2. McAbee Feed
Hair stylist
1. Jen Riggs
2. Jessica Powell
Hair salon
1. Attitudes and Images
2. Tranquility Day Spa
Health club/gym
1. Rovella’s
2. Gold’s Gym
Dentist
1. Craig Nagareda
2. Calvin Clarke
Doctor
1. Peter Coelho
2. Daniel Wang
Surgeon
1. Leonard Caputo
2. Enis Martinez
Family Practitioner
1. Peter Coelho
2. Daniel Wang
Obstetrician-gynecologist
1. Aslam Barra
2. Parvis Tabibian
Optometrist
1. Gary Mayeda
2. Careen Caputo
Chiropractor
1. Sam Breger
2. William Brandon
Nurse
1. Joyce Ferland
2. Mandy Lopez
Veterinarian
1. Curtis Moran
2. Melvin White
Pharmacist
1. Bob Poekler
2. Nob Hill
Real estate agent – commercial
1. Jackie McAbee
2. Jason Noble
Real estate agent – residential
1. Monica Weltz
2. Bertao Real Estate
Accounting Firm
1. Bianchi Kasavan and Pope
2. Grace and Associates
Tax service
1. H&R Block
2. Mariposa
Pastor
1. Rudy Ruiz
2. John Amelio
Church
1. St. Benedict’s/Sacred Heart
2. Hollister First Presbyterian
Animal control officer
1. Lainy Watkins
2. Julie Carreiro
Customer service
1. Greenwood
2. Kelly’s Gift Place
Auto salesperson
1. Greg Zazueta
2. Gino Andrade
Auto repair
1. Greenwod Chevrolet
2. San Benito Tire
Service station
1. Safeway
2. Chevron
Car wash
1. Suds
2. Penguin
Towing service
1. AAA/CSAA
2. Tiffany Motors
Tires
1. San Benito Tires
2. Rossi’s
Dry cleaners
1. French Cleaners
2. Colonial Cleaners
Clothing store
1. She’s
2. Drapoel
Florist
1. Hollister Flowers
2. Precious Petals
Sporting goods
1. Muenzer’s Cyclery and Sports Center
2. Big 5
Pet supply store
1. Pet World
2. Raven’s
Party supply store
1. A to Z Party Rentals
2. Jump 2 It
New downtown business
1. Knife and Fork Cafe
2. Serene Home
Computer repair
1. Rx Tek
2. MJM Computers
Insurance company
1. AAA/CSAA
2. Bishop-Lusink
Jeweler
1. Maddux
2. Garcia’s
Massage therapy
1. Tranquility Day Spa
2. Pallacio
Teacher – elementary
1. Lisa Felice
2. John Glass
Teacher – high school
1. Amy Henneman
2. Juan Robledo
Music teacher
1. Joe Ostenson
2. Sally Hale
Youth coach
1. George Ocampo
2. Gino Andrade
Day Care
1. Lynette Jewett/Net’s Play and Learn
2. Paddington School
Martial arts studio
1. Mainstreet Kickboxing
2. Schleeter’s Academy of Martial Arts
Contractor
1. Fraser Construction
2. Alex Garcia
Electrician
1. Keen Electric
2. Enterprise Electric
Plumber
1. Marquez Plumbing
2. George Nava
Glass shop
1. Golden State Glass
2. San Benito Glass
Carpet cleaning service
1. Y-wait
2. Five Star
Pest control
1. Ebco
2. Clark
Home improvement
1. Ace
2. McKinnon Lumber
Heating/cooling firm
1. Rianda Air
2. San Benito Heating
Hardware store
1. Ace
2. True Value
Landscaping
1. Silva’s
2. McDonald Landscaping
Pool Service
1. Rick’s
2. Pete’s
Flooring
1. Pinnacle Hardwood Floors
2. Tri-Valley Tile
Janitorial Service
1. AAA
2. Clean For You
Mural
1. Quiksilver Outlet in Gilroy, by Nick Springer
2. Johnny’s Bar and Grill
Free wi-fi
1. Running Rooster
2. Starbucks
Best activities
Landmark/historical site
1. Pinnacles National Monument
2. Mission San Juan Bautista
Thrill-seeking business
1. Hollister Honda Powerhouse
2. Adventure Center Skydiving
Beach within 60 minutes
1. Santa Cruz
2. Capitola
Day trip
1. Monterey
2. Pinnacles National Monument
Golf course
1. San Juan Oaks
2. Ridgemark
Theater company
1. San Benito Stage Company
2. Premiere Cinemas
Local Web site
1. www.pinnaclenews.com
2. www.vistanotes.net
Best event
1. Hollister Motorcycle Rally
2. County fair/Lights On (tied)
