Ted Balestreri's career in the hospitality industry covers all capacities, from busboy to owner. In 1968 Ted formed a partnership and created the Sardine Factory, which has been the recipient of many prestigious awards. Ted is Chairman and CEO of the Sardine Factory Restaurant.

He has served as President and/or Chair on the boards of numerous restaurant and culinary industry organizations, including the National Restaurant Association (NRA), California Restaurant Association, U.S. Culinary Team Foundation, International Gold & Silver Plate Society, Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DIRoNA), and the NRA Educational Foundation. Ted served on the Board of Directors of the National Chapter of the Confrerie de la Chaine des Rotisseurs as Conseiller des Professionels des Etats-Unis. In 1996 he was appointed to the CRA Educational Foundation Board of Trustees.

Additionally, Ted has served on many school and college boards, and charitable organizations, and has been a major contributor to scholarship funds through local and national educational foundations.

Ted received an Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration Degree in Hospitality Management from Johnson and Wales University in 1987, and in 1998 received a “Fellow” in Business from the California State University-Monterey Bay. Ted has been the recipient of numerous recognition awards for his leadership at both national and local levels, including the IFMA's Gold Plate Award. Ted and his wife Velma appeared on the cover of Money Magazine in November 1981, featured in an article on "Bright Futures.” He is the recipient of Restaurant Business Magazine's "1989 Leadership Award," and also was presented with the "Industry Leader Award" from the Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) Council at the 1989 RBS Leaders Forum. . In 1993 Ted was inducted into the NRA Educational Foundation's "College of Diplomates.” In 1995 Ted was inducted into the Distinguished Restaurants of North America “DiRoNA Hall of Fame.” Ted was honored by the State of Israel Restaurant Division in 1995 with the “Person of the Year” award. Ted is the 2001 recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor presented to him by the National Ethnic Coalition Organization (NECO).