OCTOBER 5, 2026 | 6 PM-9 PM
THE HERCULES BUILDING 1313 N. MARKET STREET | WILMINGTON, DE
THE 2026 DELAWARE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION CORNERSTONE AWARDS ARE PRESENTED TO YOU BY:
DELAWARERESTAURANTS.ORG
6:00 – 9:00 PM
OCT 5
THE MAIN EVENT
The Hercules Building Cornerstone Awards presentation Live music Food and drinks from DRA restaurant members Live art auction A celebration of Delaware’s hospitality community
FEATURED HOSPITALITY VENDORS Toscana • Curry & Spice Bar • SoDel Concepts • Trolley Square Oyster House • PDG • La Fête • Home Grown Café • PBE • Harry’s Hospitality Group • Delcastle Culinary • ESMÉ • Caffé Gelato • Oath’ 84 • Plated Soul by Aunt Vonda • Paul Cullen
9:00 – 11:00 PM
OCT 5
THE OFFICIAL AFTERPARTY
The Chancery Market
The celebration continues following the awards! More after-party details to be announced.
2026
RECEPIENTS CORNERSTONE AWARD WINNER Platinum Dining Group Carl and Lisa Georigi
For Carl and Lisa, excellence has never been about overnight success—it has been built over more than 30 years of hard work, thoughtful growth, and commitment to their team and community. Carl and Lisa continue to lead with the belief that great businesses are built over time and that true success means bringing your people and your community along with you.
Restaurateur of the Year Shorebreak Lodge Ben and Diane Winiarczyk Ben and Diane’s story is one of taking a chance on a dream and turning it into something meaningful for their community. Neither came from a traditional restaurant background, but when the opportunity to take over Shorebreak came along, they saw the potential to build something special. Their journey reflects what can happen when you take a leap, believe in a place, and invest in the people and community around you.
Industry Impact Award Vincenza Carrieri-Russo As co-owner of V&M Bistro, Vincenza has dedicated herself to Delaware’s restaurant industry, advocating for the people and businesses that make hospitality thrive. From speaking up for the industry on the Hill to bringing people together in her community, she continues to use her voice to create opportunities, build connections, and support the next generation of women leaders.
Excellence in Service: Server Pat Price Mutchler Nicola Pizza
Excellence in Service: Bartender Ryan Minnick Bethany Blues and Stingray Sushi Bar
For more than 30 years, Pat Price Mutchler has been a familiar and beloved face at Nicola Pizza, bringing the same warmth, enthusiasm, and care to her work year after year. Her longevity is more than a testament to her commitment to the restaurant industry and it reflects how deeply she loves the people who walk through the door. For Ryan Minnick, hospitality isn't simply a job—it is who he is. His coworkers describe someone who genuinely loves coming to work, loves connecting with people, and goes out of his way to make those around him smile.
YOUR WHOLE RESTAURANT. ON ONE PLATFORM. Quit juggling a dozen systems that don’t talk to each other. Bring them together, with SpotOn. No more cobbled-together tech stack. SpotOn gives you the tools to run your restaurant your way, and the data to back up every decision you make.
• Point-of-sale
•Payroll prep
•Payments
• Loyalty
•Online ordering
• Marketing
•Scheduling
•And more
Big impact requiresbig commitment.
Sysco is committed to donating $500 million worth of good by 2025 through product and monetary donations, as well as volunteer time. With our signature Nourishing Neighbors program, we’re supporting organizations in our communities that work to eliminate hunger and make nutritious food available where it’s needed most.
local impact
Here’s how it works: A portion of the proceeds from each Sysco Brand case sold in our local communities will be donated to local charitable organizations. At least 75% of those donations will go toward charities that help feed people. Every case counts: Sysco customers who choose Sysco Brand products are supporting Nourishing Neighbors and helping to fight hunger in the communities where they live and work.
national reach
All Sysco’sU.S.and CanadaBroadline companies are participatingin the program. With dozens of locations across North America, Nourishing Neighbors can have a significant impact in the fight against hunger.
Join us in the fight against hunger. One in three seniors and one in six children are food insecure – which means they don’t know where their next meal will come from. Together, let’s do something about it. Learn more at sysco.com/csr ©2021 All Rights Reserved. Sysco Corporation. 2519187
U L T A A T R I G O N NS O C TO THIS YEAR’S WINNERS!
Great things happen when we work together. Thank you for your partnership, dedication and collaboration.
Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits are proud sponsors of the 2026 DRA Cornerstone Awards
Deliver spotless wares, clean surfaces and healthy environments TM
Learn more at Ecolab.com/restaurants
©2024 Ecolab USA Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Proudly Supplying
ALL OF DELMARVA . . .
Local & Fresh HAND-CUT BLACK ANGUS STEAKS DELAWARE RAISED ANTIBIOTIC FREE CHICKEN
diamondstatemeats.com
Contact Us!
302-270-0009 sales@diamondstatemeats.com
CONGRATULATIONS! ProudSponsorofthe 2026DRA CornerstoneAward Ceremony
We’reproud to honorthe talent and creativity of all the Cornerstone award nominees. Congratulations to all the 2026 Cornerstone finalists and winners!
OUR PRODUCT IN ACTION
congressionalesafood.com (410) 799-8626 PROVIDING THE HIGHEST QUALITY SEAFOOD
DAVE NICHOLS, MBA, CPA (302) 888-1040 | FAX 998-8480 CPABiz@Comcast.Net
NICHOLS & ASSOCIATES, PA Get the Most from your Business Tax & Accounting Services
www.cpabizniz.com
Individual & Business
2300 W. Newport Pike
In Business Since 1993
Wilmington, DE 19804
from the
Opici Family to yours,
Congratulations!
FOOD STATIONS TOSCANA Hand Turned Tortellini
CURRY & SPICE BAR Veg Hakka Noodles Chicken Tikka
SODEL CONCEPTS Hangover Seafood Cocktail
TROLLEY SQUARE OYSTER HOUSE Shaved Beef Crostini
PLATINUM DINING GROUP Smoked Scallop
LA FETE Escargot Vol au Vent
HOMEGROWN Vegan Crabcake
EZME Beef Cheek Hummus
FOOD STATIONS PAUL CULLEN Burrata Bruschetta
OATH 84 Lamb Chops
PLATED SOUL BY AUNT VONDA Smothered Chicken
CAFFE GELATO Lobster Gnocchi
DELCASTLE CULINARY Grazing Table
HARRY'S SAVOY GRILL Whipped Ricotta Toast
PIZZA BY ELIZABETH’S
Mini Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup
BEVERAGES Enjoy a variety of delicious cocktails, mixed drinks, nonalcoholic beverages, and more. Generously provided by the DRA’s incredible supporters and partners.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2026 DRA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chairman of the Board MICHAEL STIGLITZ The 2SP Group
Vice Chair PAULA JANSSEN Janssen’s Market / J’s Cafe
Treasurer JOSE LOPEZ La Tolteca
Immediate Past Chair JEFF GOSNEAR Grotto Pizza
DIRECTORS BOB ASHBY Ashby Hospitality Group MARC ASHBY Ashby Hospitality Group JILLIAN BRUCE-WILLIS Brew HaHa! VONDA BENSON Plated Soul by Aunt Vonda DREW DIFONZO TKO Hospitality MATT DISABATINO Kindle/Half Full DENNIS FORBES Restaurant 55 CARL GEORIGI Platinum Dining Group RYAN GERMAN Caffe Gelato
CARLA GUZZI Bing’s Bakery/Bings Bake & Brew SCOTT KAMMERER SoDel Concepts DR. SHERYL KLINE University of Delaware KATIE KUTLER Kaffe Karma / Spread Good Karma Foundation BETSY LEROY Pizza by Elizabeth's STEVE LUCEY Ulysses/Six Paupers GIANMARCO MARTUSCELLI Martuscelli Restaurant Group STEVE MONTGOMERY The Starboard/Bethany Blues
DANIELLE PANARELLO SoDel Concepts BOBBY PANCAKE High 5 Hospitality PAUL RUGGIERO NKS Distributors PRESTON RUSSELL Lago/Zava Cafe BILLY SAVAGE Diamond State Meats RICHARD SCHNEIDER Areas, USA CHRIS TAGGART The Dog House XAVIER TEIXIDO Harry's Hospitality Group
2026 DRF BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chairman of the Board TIM HUNTER Food Bank of Delaware
2026 DRA/DRF LEADERSHIP TEAM
Vice Chair LORI LIGUORI High 5 Hospitality Group
CARRIE LEISHMAN President & CEO
Immediate Past Chair JAVIER ACUNA Hakuna Hospitality Group
MEGHAN GARDNER Vice President
DIRECTORS
SARAH POURSAIED Director of Finance
LISA BREEDLOVE SoDel Concepts
COREY HARRISON Ecolab
VINCENZA CARRIERIRUSSO V&M Bistro
JOSEPH JONES New Castle County Vo-Tech School District
RAE WHICHARD Director of Membership & Corporate Engagement
MARY DUPONT La Plaza Delaware
KELLY O’HANLON Harry’s Hospitality Group
RUTHANN MESSICK Director of Workforce Development
ANDREW FEELEY Appoquinimink High School
HANK ROSENBERG Harrington Raceway & Casino
TOM HANNUM Buckley’s Tavern/Goober’s Diner
MICHELLE SOUZA
ELIZABETH MANTEY Director of Communications & Marketing
DELAWARERESTAURANTS.ORG
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR
SPONSORS
CORNERSTONE AWARDS 2026 Monday, October 5 | The Hercules Building DelawareRestaurant.org
DELAWARERESTAURANTS.ORG