Winners revealed: WRAL Voters' Choice Awards honors best in local business

The "best of" ballot gives the WRAL audience an opportunity to vote for their favorite people, businesses and services in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Fayetteville and other areas of North Carolina.

Posted 1:23 a.m. Jan 14, 2022 — Updated 6:30 p.m. Jan 14, 2022

Kathy Hanrahan

, WRAL lifestyle editor

RALEIGH, N.C. — The seventh annual WRAL Voters' Choice Awards recognized your local favorites in a virtual ceremony held Thursday.

The “best of” ballot gives the WRAL audience an opportunity to vote for their favorite people, businesses and services in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Fayetteville and other areas of North Carolina.

Former WRAL anchor Bill Leslie and WRAL contributor Sloane Heffernan hosted the ceremony.

See a list of winners: 2021 WRAL Voters' Choice Awards

Dr. Mandy Cohen was named the Woman of the Year. The former secretary of the state Department of Health and Human Services became the public face of North Carolina's response to COVID-19 in 2020. Cohen recently stepped down from her position.

Cohen 'grateful' for chance to help guide NC through pandemic

WRAL anchor Debra Morgan was named best WRAL-TV personality and James Beard award-winning chef Ashley Christensen was selected as best local chef.

Sola Coffee was named the best coffee shop for the fourth year in a row, while Two Roosters won best ice cream for the third year in a row. Cousin's Maine Lobster won best food truck for the second year in a row. Krispy Kreme won in the best doughnut category. Lynnwood Brewing Concern won for best brewery.

Angus Barn won three awards, including best steak, fine dining and wine selection - all categories it had won previous years.

Esteamed Coffee in Cary won the award for Most Innovative Local Startup. This non-profit employs individuals with various disabilities.

Esteamed Coffee in Cary allows employees to put abilities on display

The WRAL Voters' Choice Awards are determined each year by your votes. In mid-September, a nomination period was held for you to submit your picks in a variety of categories. In mid-October, the five finalists in each category were revealed and online voting opened. Voting closed and votes were tallied in late November.

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