What’s better than making a mark on the local dining scene? Try an award for Bartender of the Year, just the latest accolade shared by this Rockford newcomer.
Less than a year after opening Crave Kitchen & Cocktails, 3801 N. Perryville Road in Rockford, mother-daughter duo Angela and Ava Vitale have already made a stir in the national hospitality scene. Ava, who runs the beverage service, gave Rockford’s bar scene a shot of pride when she was named Bartender of the Year at the 2025 Bar & Restaurant Expo in Las Vegas this March. For Ava, the win was a complete surprise.
“My mom nominated me without me knowing,” she laughs.
Angela was inspired to throw her daughter’s cocktail-crafting hat in the ring while purchasing tickets to attend the expo.
“We’ve been going for a couple of years now,” Angela says. “I thought, ‘Why not give it a try?’”…