Ai Pono Awards winners announced

Last night, the Four Seasons Resort Maui in Wailea set an elegant stage for the 2011 'Aipono Awards. It's the annual awards banquet for those in the food and beverage industry, sponsored by Maui No Ka Oi Magazine. It also benefits Maui Culinary Academy.

Chef of the Year was Sheldon Simeon of Star Noodle in Lahaina. He's a real up and comer and a local boy, to boot.

Maui County Farm Bureau’s Friend of Agriculture gave Justin Pardo of Market Fresh Bistro in Makawao a nod.

The prestigious Excellence in Sustainability: Hyatt Regency Resort & Spa in Ka'anapali.

But the biggest applause of all went to Floyd and Doris Christenson of Mama's Fish House for the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Here is a complete list of the winners.

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR Gold: Capische? 555 Kaukahi Rd., Wailea (808) 879-2224 www.capische.com

Silver: Pineapple Grill 200 Kapalua Dr., Kapalua (808) 669-9600 www.pineapplekapalua.com

BEST NEW RESTAURANT Gold: Star Noodle 286 Kupuohi St., Lahaina (808) 667-5400

Silver: Gannon’s 100 Wailea Golf Club Dr., Wailea (808) 875-8080

BEST SERVICE Gold: Lahaina Grill 127 Lahainaluna Rd., Lahaina (808) 667-5117

Silver: Spago Four Seasons Resort Maui 3900 Wailea Alanui, Wailea (808) 874-8000

BEST WATERFRONT DINING Gold: Mala Ocean Tavern 1307 Front St., Lahaina (808) 667-9394

Silver: Merriman’s Kapalua 1 Bay Dr., Kapalua (808) 669-6400

BEST WINE LIST Gold: Pineapple Grill 200 Kapalua Dr., Kapalua (808) 669-9600

Silver:Lahaina Grill 127 Lahainaluna Rd., Lahaina (808) 667-5117

MOST ROMANTIC Gold: Merriman’s Kapalua 1 Bay Dr., Kapalua (808) 669-6400

Silver: Gerard’s 174 Lahainaluna Rd., Lahaina (808) 661-8939

MOST INNOVATIVE Gold: I’O Restaurant 505 Front St., Lahaina (808) 661-8422

Silver—tie: David Paul’s Island Grill 900 Front St., Lahaina (808) 662-3000

Banyan Tree Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua 1 Ritz-Carlton Dr., Kapalua (808) 669-6200

MOST “MAUI-EST” Gold: Mama’s Fish House 799 Poho Pl., K¯u‘au (808) 579-8488

Silver: Aloha Mixed Plate 1285 Front St., Lahaina (808) 661-3322

BEST HAWAI‘I REGIONAL Gold: H¯ali‘imaile General Store 900 H¯ali‘imaile Rd., H¯ali‘imaile (808) 572-2666

Silver: Pineapple Grill 200 Kapalua Dr., Kapalua (808) 669-9600

BEST ASIAN Gold: A Saigon Café 1792 Main St., Wailuku (808) 243-9560

Silver: Sansei Seafood Restaurant& Sushi Bar 600 S. Office Rd., Kapalua (808) 669-6286 1881 S. Kihei Rd., Kihei (808) 879-0004

BEST DINNER VALUE Gold: Aloha Mixed Plate 1285 Front St., Lahaina (808) 661-3322

Silver: Cilantro Mexican Grill 170 Papalaua St., Lahaina (808) 667-5444

BEST BUSINESS LUNCH Gold: Bistro Casanova 33 Lono Ave., Kahului (808) 873-3650

Silver: Café O’Lei 2439 S. Kihei Rd., #201A, Kihei (808) 891-1368 62 N. Market St., Wailuku (808) 986-0044 200 Halewalu Rd., Waiehu (808) 242-2770 1333 Maui Lani Pkwy., Kahului (808) 877-0073

BEST BAKERY Gold: T. Komoda Store & Bakery 3674 Baldwin Ave., Makawao (808) 572-7261

Silver: Stillwell’s Bakery & Café 1740 Ka‘ahumanu Ave., Wailuku (808) 243-2243

BEST TAKEOUT Gold: Honok¯owai Okazuya & Deli 3600-D Lower Honoapi‘ilani Rd., Honokowai (808) 665-0512

Silver: Outback Steakhouse281 Pi‘ikea Ave., Kihei (808) 879-8400 325 Keawe St., Lahaina (808) 665-1822

BEST VEGETARIAN FARE Gold: Mala Ocean Tavern / Mala Wailea 1307 Front St., Lahaina (808) 667-9394 Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa 3700 Wailea Alanui, Wailea (808) 875-9394

Silver:Joy’s Place 1993 S. Kihei Rd.,Kihei (808) 879-9258

BEST PLACE TO DINE WITH KIDS Gold: Ruby’s Diner Queen Ka‘ahumanu Center 275 Ka‘ahumanu Ave., Kahului (808) 248-7829

Silver: Cool Cat Café 658 Front St., Lahaina (808) 667-0908

BEST BREAKFAST Gold: Sea House Restaurant Napili Kai Beach Resort 5900 Lower Honoapi‘ilani Rd., Napili (808) 669-1500

Silver: Plantation House Restaurant 2000 Plantation Club Dr., Kapalua (808) 669-6299

BEST PLATE LUNCH Gold: Aloha Mixed Plate 1285 Front St., Lahaina (808) 661-3322

Silver: Da Kitchen 425 Koloa St., Kahului (808) 871-7782 2439 S. Kihei Rd., Kihei (808) 875-7782

BEST DESSERT Gold: Roy’s Kahana Bar & Grill 4405 Honoapi‘ilani Hwy., Kahana (808) 669-6999

Silver—Tie Hula Grill Whalers Village 2435 Ka‘anapali Pkwy., Ka‘anapali (808) 667-6636

Kimo’s 845 Front St., Lahaina (808) 661-4811

BEST SUSHI Gold: Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar 600 S. Office Rd., Kapalua (808) 669-6286 1881 S. Kihei Rd., Kihei (808) 879-0004

Silver: Kobe Japanese Steak House 136 Dickenson St., Lahaina (808) 667-5555

BEST LOBBY LOUNGE Gold: Alaloa Lounge Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua 1 Ritz-Carlton Dr., Kapalua (808) 669-6200

Silver: Lobby Lounge, Four Seasons Resort 3900 Wailea Alanui, Wailea (808) 874-8000

BEST LATE-NIGHT DINING Gold: Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar 600 S. Office Rd., Kapalua (808) 669-6286 1881 S. Kihei Rd., Kihei (808) 879-0004

Silver: Lahaina Coolers 180 Dickenson St., Lahaina (808) 661-7082

BEST ITALIAN Gold: Ferraro’s Bar e Ristorante Four Seasons Resort Maui 3900 Wailea Alanui, Wailea (808) 874-8000

Silver: Pulehu, an Italian Grill Westin Ka‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas 6 Kai Ala Dr., Ka‘anapali (808) 667-3200

BEST LU‘AU Gold: Old Lahaina L¯u‘au 1251 Front St., Lahaina (808) 667-1998

Silver: Feast at Lele 505 Front St., Lahaina (808) 667-5353

BEST STEAK Gold: Duo Four Seasons Resort Maui 3900 Wailea Alanui, Wailea (808) 874-8000

Silver: Ruth’s Chris Steak House 3750 Wailea Alanui, Wailea (808) 874-8880 900 Front St., Lahaina (808) 661-8815

BEST-KEPT SECRET Gold: Cuatro 1881 S. Kihei Rd., Ste. 111, Kihei (808) 879-1110

Silver: Kahili Restaurant Kahili Golf Course 2500 Honoapi‘ilani Hwy., Waikapu (808) 242-6000

BEST SEAFOOD Gold: Mama’s Fish House 799 Poho Pl., Ku‘au (808) 579-8488

Silver: The Waterfront Restaurant 50 Hauoli St., Ma‘alaea (808) 244-9028

BEST PIZZA Gold: Flatbread Company 89 Hana Hwy., Pa‘ia (808) 579-8989

Silver: Lahaina Pizza Company 730 Front St., Lahaina (808) 661-0700

BEST BAR Gold—tie Ohia Bar, Duke’s Beach House Honua Kai Resort & Spa 130 Kai Malina Pkwy., Lahaina (808) 662-2900

Timba 505 Front St., Lahaina (808) 661-9873

Silver: South Shore Tiki Lounge Kihei Kalama Village 1913 S. Kihei Rd.,Kihei (808) 874-6444

BEST COCKTAILS Gold: Mala Ocean Tavern / Mala Wailea 1307 Front St., Lahaina (808) 667-9394

Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa 3700 Wailea Alanui, Wailea (808) 875-9394

Silver: ‘Umalu Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa 200 Nohea Kai Dr., Ka‘anapali (808) 667-4902