Announcing the 2012 Eater Awards for Seattle

It is time now—drumroll, trumpets, etc.—to announce the winners of the 2012 Eater Awards. In over a dozen categories in 19 cities, the winners comprise a diverse group of the finest and most interesting chefs, operators, and characters in the country. We applaud them. You are hereby instructed to applaud them. So, without further ado—actually, a few quick pre-ambling thoughts....

To recap, Eater's local editors in 19 cities nominated candidates for five major local categories: Restaurant of the Year, So Hot Right Now Restaurant, Chef of the Year, Bartender of the Year, and Stone Cold Stunner. Eater readers then voted to narrow the field to a final three in each category. From that final three, the Eater editorial team chose the winner. Our Eater National brain trust then got together to decide the national winners for those categories. In addition to these main stage winners, said Eater editorial team has named worthy winners in more specialized categories, for myriad notable achievements.

Nominees and winners alike will be feted at a party tonight in Manhattan. Those winners that couldn't make it should watch their mail for packages containing cans of Italian peeled tomatoes. And now, without further ado, the winners in Seattle.

Click through for the full rundown of winners across the country on Eater National.

Eater Awards 2012

Restaurant of the Year
Nominees: Altura, Bar Del Corso, LloydMartin, Madison Park Conservatory, Willows Inn
Finalists: Altura, LloydMartin, Madison Park Conservatory
Winner: Madison Park Conservatory

Chef of the Year:
Nominees: Jerry Corso, Sam Crannell, Nathan Lockwood, Cormac Mahoney, Blaine Wetzel
Finalists: Sam Crannell, Nathan Lockwood, Blaine Wetzel
Winner: Sam Crannell

So Hot Right Now
Nominees: Bitterroot BBQ, Cafe Munir, Crumble & Flake, Joule, The Whale Wins
Finalists: Crumble & Flake, Joule, The Whale Wins
Winner: The Whale Wins

Bartender of the Year
Nominees: Chris Goad, Veronika Groth, Erik Hakkinen, David Nelson, Murray Stenson
Finalists: Chris Goad, Erik Hakkinen, Murray Stenson
Winner: Murray Stenson

Stone Cold Stunner
Nominees: Book Bindery, Restaurant Zoe, Momiji, Frank's Oysterhouse Champagne Parlor, Tin Lizzie Lounge
Finalists: Book Bindery, Momiji, Restaurant Zoe
Winner: Momiji

Food Truck
Nominees: Contigo, Hallava Falafel, Tacos El Asadero, Pinky's Kitchen, Snout & Co.
Winner: Hallava Falafel