Lodi’s 2027 James Beard Awards Recommendations — Supporting Local Culinary Talent

Lodi Belongs at the National Table

Lodi’s wines have gained national recognition, and the community’s food deserves that same attention.

Chefs, bakers, and restaurant teams throughout Lodi are creating destination-worthy experiences. Their work combines thoughtful cuisine, welcoming hospitality, and the agricultural character of California’s Central Valley.

For consideration in the 2027 James Beard Awards, Visit Lodi is spotlighting the people and stories connected to Guantonio’s, Ruby’s Bakery & Cafe, and Pietro’s Trattoria.

If one of these businesses has given you a memorable meal, become part of your routine, or made a meaningful contribution to the community, you can share what that experience meant to you.

The Businesses and Culinary Professionals We’re Supporting

Learn more about the people, traditions, and craft behind three Lodi favorites, then help bring their stories to a national audience.

Guantonio’s

Recommended category: Best Chef (California)
Candidate: Nick Guantone, Guantonio’s

Lodi, California might have become another small town dominated by chain restaurants. Its agricultural identity and longstanding winegrowing heritage, however, created the foundation for something more distinctive. Chef Nick Guantone returned with years of culinary experience and inspiration, building the neighborhood restaurant Lodi deserved.

Guantonios Wood Fired began as a family project. Nick and his parents transformed an abandoned Texaco gas station, working nights and weekends to make the restaurant a reality.

That shared beginning continues to shape Nick’s approach to sustainable work culture. Family members contribute throughout the kitchen and dining room, and a five-night dinner schedule gives service a clear rhythm. The result is a small, family-run business that brings culinary ambition to the Central Valley and is strongly supported by the local community.

Every morning begins with dough. Naturally leavened, slowly fermented, and completed in a wood-fired oven, it produces a crust that is light, crisp, and full of flavor. Comfort and creativity meet on the menu, including a “Not Pizza” section and seasonal dishes developed through direct relationships with local farmers.

The wine program features bottles made with Lodi-grown grapes, deepening the restaurant’s support for regional producers. Guests choose bottles from the shelves themselves, making room for both discovery and a sense of ownership during the meal.

Marissa describes Guantonios as an extension of home. Tables sit intentionally close together, the music plays somewhat louder, and guests frequently share pizzas between tables. Nick’s influence extends beyond the food: he has created a neighborhood restaurant intended to serve generations of local families.

Ruby's Bakery & Café

Recommended category: Outstanding Baker or Dessert Professional
Candidate: Lynn and Fausto Echeverria, Ruby’s Bakery & Cafe

For many people, a sugar bun from Ruby’s is the ideal beginning to a Lodi morning. Downtown, co-owners and bakers Lynn and Fausto Echeverria run the bakery. The pair met while working at Tartine and later moved to Lodi to live closer to family. Their daughter, Ruby, inspired the bakery’s name.

Lynn was raised in the restaurant industry and initially expected to continue her family’s tradition of savory cooking. Culinary school revealed a different calling in baking. That passion now guides a menu centered on quality ingredients, seasonal produce, and recipes that allow the flavors to lead.

Among the customer favorites are the sugar bun, ham and cheese quiche, sea salt chocolate chip cookies, coffee cake, and gluten-free coconut macaroons. Local farmers’ produce informs the bakery’s seasonal sandwiches, quiches, and pies.

Ruby’s relationship with Lodi reaches beyond what is displayed in the pastry case. Fausto frequently welcomes regulars by name, treats new customers like friends, and supports local fundraisers and firefighter causes.

Visit Lodi is supporting the baking talent at Ruby’s in the Outstanding Baker or Dessert Professional category. People who have experienced their work can describe the skill, creativity, and attention to detail that make it memorable.

This category recognizes an individual, eligible pair, or team. Recommendations should use the confirmed candidate name listed above.

Pietro’s Trattoria

Recommended category: America’s Classics
Candidate: Pietro’s Trattoria

At Pietro’s, the dining room may include a team marking a victory, a couple sharing date night, or multiple generations gathered around a family meal. Since opening in Lodi in 1985, the restaurant has become part of both everyday dining and important celebrations throughout the community.

The family history reaches back to 1956, when Pietro Murdaca immigrated from Southern Italy and opened the first Pietro’s in Vacaville. Pietro and his son Jim brought the family tradition to Lodi in 1985. Today, Jim’s son Pete continues that legacy.

The restaurant has undergone renovations and moved to a new location, yet its foundations remain quality food, sincere service, and respect for the team. Familiar selections such as Chicken Parmigiana and Eggplant Parmigiana continue on a menu that joins Italian tradition with Lodi’s agricultural surroundings.

Pietro’s community commitment includes support for organizations such as Lodi House, which serves women and children. Regulars from several generations have woven the restaurant into their own family histories.

Visit Lodi is recommending Pietro’s for America’s Classics, which recognizes longstanding, locally and independently owned establishments whose food and traditions reflect their communities.

Those who have made Pietro’s part of their family traditions can share that story, including the food, hospitality, and enduring connection that make it a Lodi classic.

America’s Classics honorees are selected by the James Beard Foundation’s Restaurant and Chef Subcommittee.

Share What Makes These Candidates Exceptional

The most compelling recommendation comes from firsthand knowledge. Explain the care behind a dish, the hospitality you remember, or a particular way a candidate strengthens the community.

Write in your own words and include specific examples. The candidate profiles offer background, while your submission should represent your individual experience and point of view.

Recommendations must be submitted by November 30, 2026, at 8:59 p.m. Pacific. Restaurant and Chef Award recommendations are free to submit.

A Larger Culinary Story for Lodi

These three businesses belong to a wider culinary community that gives travelers more reasons to visit Lodi. Sharing their stories helps build recognition for the chefs, bakers, growers, and hospitality teams shaping food in the Central Valley.

Whatever the awards outcome, their work merits discovery. Arrive hungry, meet the people behind the food, and find a new favorite table in Lodi.

Visit Lodi is independently supporting these candidates for consideration. A public recommendation does not confer official James Beard semifinalist, nominee, or winner status. This campaign is not affiliated with or endorsed by the James Beard Foundation.