MEDIA RELEASE 16 July 2012 IMMEDIATE REGIONAL WINNERS FROM NORTHERN NSW RESTAURANT AND CATERER OF THE YEAR AWARDS Muse Restaurant and Café of Pokolbin from the Hunter / Central Coast region and Fig Tree Restaurant of Byron Bay from the Northern / New England region have been named as the region s top places to dine in the 2012 Savour Australia TM Restaurant & Catering. As if that weren t enough they also won an additional category, namely the region s best Contemporary Australian Restaurant Formal dining and BYO Restaurant respectfully. Joining Muse Restaurant an Café and Fig Tree Restaurant in the winners circle as the Northern NSW region Caterers of the Year were Caves Beachside of Cuisine (Hunter / Central Coast) of Caves Beach and Bonville Golf Resort (Northern / New England) of Bonville. All four major winners will now compete with venues from across Australia in the National finals being held in at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre on 29 October this year. More than one-hundred and seventy-three restaurants and caterers whose businesses are located on the north coast of New South Wales were recognised at the ceremony last night (16 July) at Wests Newcastle to acknowledge and celebrate excellence in food and service standards. Restaurant & Catering CEO John Hart commented that the Awards for Excellence represent an important moment as the industry pauses to honour these outstanding venues that have been anonymously judged and rigorously reviewed against the entire dining experience rather than a single food or service dimension. For the full list of category winners in the 2012 ACT Savour Australia TM Restaurant & Catering HOSTPLUS Awards for Excellence please see the attached list or visit the Restaurant & Catering website at www.restaurantcater.asn.au. THANK YOU TO OUR NATIONAL AND LOCAL SPONSORS! For further information on this media release please contact: John Hart CEO, Restaurant & Catering P: 1300 722 878 E: jhart@restaurantcater.asn.au
HUNTER / CENTRAL COAST RESTAURANT AWARDS Asian Restaurant Sponsored by Coca-Cola Jan's Chinese Malaysian Restaurant, THE ENTRANCE WINNER - Oishii Japanese & Thai Restaurant, POKOLBIN Sesames on the Lake, BELMONT Breakfast Restaurant Deck 56, BELMONT Delish of Erina, ERINA WINNER - Hughzies Lakeside Brasserie, TORONTO Oasis on High, MAITLAND Queens Wharf Kitchen, NEWCASTLE Restaurant Cuvee, POKOLBIN Restaurant Sanctuary, POKOLBIN Stillwater on Belmore, LORN Tea Gardens Boatshed Restaurant, TEA GARDENS BYO Restaurant HONOURABLE MENTION - Lamiche, WAMBERAL Café Restaurant Sponsored by Australian Mangoes Awaba House Café, BOORAGUL WINNER - Cove Café, TERRIGAL Deck 56, BELMONT Delish of Erina, ERINA Flying Duck Café, VACY Lotus Espresso, THE JUNCTION Oasis on High, MAITLAND Stillwater on Belmore, LORN Talulah, THE JUNCTION Tea Gardens Boatshed Restaurant, TEA GARDENS Zinc on Darby, NEWCASTLE Chinese Restaurant Sponsored by Coca-Cola Amatil Ho Wah Restaurant, MAYFIELD Lil Buddha Asian Cuisine, SALAMANDER BAY WINNER - Silver Dragon Chinese Restaurant, UMINA BEACH
Coffee Shop / Tea House Bliss Café, POKOLBIN Café Bon Oz, KOTARA Café El Roma, KOTARA Café Fresh, CHARLESTOWN WINNER - Café Salt, CHARLESTOWN Espresso Jet, KOTARA Lotus Express, KOTARA Contemporary Australia Restaurant Formal Emerson's at Pokolbin, POKOLBIN WINNER - Muse Restaurant and Café, POKOLBIN Reef Restaurant, TERRIGAL The Boathouse Waterfront Restaurant, KOOLEWONG Contemporary Australian Restaurant Informal Benchmark on Booner, HAWKS NEST Lotus Espresso, THE JUNCTION WINNER - Paymasters Restaurant, NEWCASTLE EAST Silo Restaurant & Lounge, NEWCASTLE Sprout Dining, NEWCASTLE The Cellar Restaurant, POKOLBIN Entertainment Restaurant Sponsored by APRA Live n Cookin at Lizotte's Central Coast, KINCUMBER WINNER - Live n Cookin at Lizotte's Newcastle, LAMBTON European Restaurant WINNER - The Old George and Dragon Restaurant, EAST MAITLAND The Olive Tree Restaurant, BRANXTON Family Restaurant WINNER - Anchors Seafood Centre, BROADMEADOW Billabong Family Restaurant, EAST MAITLAND Fine Dining Restaurant Awaba House Restaurant, BOORAGUL Esca Bimbadgen, POKOLBIN WINNER - Restaurant Sanctuary, POKOLBIN Robert's Restaurant, POKOLBIN
Indian / Sub-Continent Restaurant Sponsored by Meat & Livestock Australia WINNER - Copperpot Indian Restaurant, UMINA BEACH Rajdhani Indian Restaurant, KINCUMBER Italian Restaurant HONOURABLE MENTION - Il Cacciatore Restaurant, POKOLBIN New Restaurant WINNER - 221 Restaurant & Bar, Royal Oak Hotel, CESSNOCK Coco Monde, NEWCASTLE Harry's at Tatler, LOVEDALE L'isle de France, GOSFORD MOHR Indian Restaurant, OURIMBAH Rustica Newcastle Beach, NEWCASTLE Sesames at the Bay, NELSON BAY The Etna on the Park, LAMBTON Pizza Restaurant Sponsored by Lion Blue Water Pizza Queens Wharf, NEWCASTLE WINNER - Blue Water Pizza Warners Bay, WARNERS BAY Restaurant in a Hotel / Motel / Resort Sponsored by American Express Amanda's on the Edge - Windsor s Edge, POKOLBIN Catch Restaurant - Shoal Bay Resort and Spa, SHOAL BAY WINNER - Restaurant Botanica, Spicers Vineyards Estate, POKOLBIN Restaurant in a Pub / Club / Tavern Sponsored by Lion WINNER - Bushrangers Bar & Brasserie, LARGS DISH Restaurant - Wallarah Bay Recreation Club, GOROKAN Reidee's @ Anna Bay Tavern, ANNA BAY Stone Baked Pizza Kitchen - Wyong Leagues Club, KANWAL The Broadwater Brasserie and Café - Davistown RSL, DAVISTOWN The Restaurant at the Burwood - The Burwood Inn, MEREWETHER Restaurant in a Winery WINNER - Nine - Tower Lodge, POKOLBIN Restaurant Cuvee - Peterson House, POKOLBIN Ridgeview Restaurant - Ridge View, POKOLBIN
Seafood Restaurant Lobster House, NEWCASTLE Mangrove Jacks Seafood Restaurant, WICKHAM Mumm's on the Myall, TEA GARDENS WINNER - Scratchley's on the Wharf, NEWCASTLE Small Bar Sponsored by Lion HONOURABLE MENTION - Goldfish Hunter Valley, POKOLBIN Specialty Restaurant Sponsored by APRA Cibo Tapas Bar, HAMILTON WINNER - Muchos Mexican, THE JUNCTION Steak Restaurant Sponsored by Meat & Livestock Australia HONOURABLE MENTION - SSS BBQ Barns Cessnock, CESSNOCK NORTHERN / NEW ENGLAND RESTAURANT AWARDS Asian Restaurant Sponsored by Coca-Cola Marigold Inn Restaurant, TAMWORTH Muoi's Feast, BYRON BAY WINNER - O-Sushi, BYRON BAY Breakfast Restaurant Blackboard at the Beach, LENNOX HEAD Café Swish, BALLINA Café Zingara, KINGSCLIFF Choux Box Café, KINGSCLIFF Cocoa, COFFS HARBOUR Evolution Café and Wine Bar, BALLINA Harvest Café, NEWRY BAR Roadies Café, GLOUCESTER WINNER - Saltwater Restaurant, EMERALD BEACH The Corner Restaurant Café, PORT MACQUARIE BYO Restaurant WINNER - Fig Tree Restaurant, BYRON BAY Wall of China Restaurant, PORT MACQUARIE
Café Restaurant Sponsored by Australian Mangoes Bent on Food, WINGHAM WINNER - Blackboard at the Beach, LENNOX HEAD Café Swish, BALLINA Café Zingara, KINGSCLIFF Cocoa, COFFS HARBOUR Evolution Café and Wine Bar, BALLINA Mavis's Kitchen and Cabins, UKI Paradise Marina, FORSTER Roadies Café, GLOUCESTER The Pass Café, BYRON BAY Why Not!, BYRON BAY Chinese Restaurant Sponsored by Coca-Cola Amatil WINNER - Dragon Palace, TAMWORTH Golden Crown Chinese Restaurant, COFFS HARBOUR Lotus at Lighthouse, PORT MACQUARIE New Bo Wa Restaurant, MOREE Coffee Shop / Tea House WINNER - Choux Box Café, KINGSCLIFF Crema Espresso Bar, PORT MACQUARIE The Block Coffee & Chocolate, PORT MACQUARIE The Coffee Club Tweed City, SOUTH TWEED HEADS Contemporary Australian Restaurant Formal WINNER - Cascada Restaurant, TAMWORTH Harvest Café, NEWRY BAR Contemporary Australian Restaurant Informal Saltwater Restaurant, EMERALD BEACH Seven Mile Restaurant, LENNOX HEAD WINNER - Taste Restaurant, SAWTELL The Point Ballina Café Bar & Restaurant, BALLINA Family Restaurant HONOURABLE MENTION - Blue Water Bar & Restaurant, PORT MACQUARIE Indian / Sub-Continent Restaurant Sponsored by Meat & Livestock Australia WINNER - Kathmandu Kitchen, KINGSCLIFF Tandoori Place on Tweed Heads, SOUTH TWEED HEADS
Italian Restaurant HONOURABLE MENTION - Fiasco Ristorante & Bar, COFFS HARBOUR New Restaurant WINNER - Café Treeo Sawtell, SAWTELL Orio Café. Patisserie. Bar, ALSTONVILLE Pizza Restaurant Sponsored by Lion WINNER - Fire in the Belly, LISMORE Lennox Head Pizza and Pasta, LENNOX HEAD Restaurant in a Hotel / Motel / Resort Sponsored by American Express Alfresco Restaurant & Bar The Sebel, COFFS HARBOUR Gregory's on Goonoo Goonoo All Settlers Motor Inn, TAMWORTH The Gateway Restaurant and Bar - Lismore Gateway Motel, LISMORE Lobby Restaurant - Best Western Sanctuary Inn, TAMWORTH WINNER - The Corner Restaurant Café - Macquarie Waters Boutique Apartment Hotel, PORT MACQUARIE Seafood Restaurant HONOURABLE MENTION - Fins Restaurant, KINGSCLIFF Thai Restaurant Sponsored by Coca-Cola Amatil HONOURABLE MENTION - Authentic Thai Orchid Restaurant, PORT MACQUARIE NORTHERN NSW CATERING AWARDS Events Caterer Sponsored by Australian Mangoes HONOURABLE MENTION - Bonville Golf Resort, BONVILLE Function / Convention Centre Caterer Sponsored by American Express Caves Beachside Cuisine, CAVES BEACH Harbourview Function Centre, NEWCASTLE WINNER - Hunter Valley Gardens, POKOLBIN Memories Function Centre, WALLSEND Taree RSL and Golf Club, TAREE The Boathouse Waterfront Restaurant & Function Centre, KOOLEWONG
Hotel Caterer Sponsored by American Express HONOURABLE MENTION - Best Western Sanctuary Inn, TAMWORTH Industrial / Institutional Caterer Alliance Catering, University of New England Residential Colleges, ARMIDALE WINNER - HS Caterer, John Hunter Hospital, NEW LAMBTON New Caterer HONOURABLE MENTION - Seasoned Hospitality - Ettalong Beach Memorial Club, ETTALONG BEACH Restaurant Caterer HONOURABLE MENTION - Reef Restaurant, TERRIGAL Restaurant Wedding Caterer Byron Beach Café, BYRON BAY Harvest Café, NEWRY BAR Reef Restaurant, TERRIGAL WINNER - Restaurant Cuvee, POKOLBIN The Boathouse Waterfront Restaurant & Function Centre, KOOLEWONG Site-Contract Caterer HONOURABLE MENTION - Scolarest (Australia) - BAE Systems Flight Training, TAMWORTH Venue Caterer HONOURABLE MENTION - Blue Star Catering - Newcastle City Hall, NEWCASTLE Wedding Caterer in a Function Centre Blue Star Catering, Fort Scratchley, NEWCASTLE Bonville Golf Resort, BONVILLE WINNER - Caves Beachside Cuisine, CAVES BEACH Harbourview Function Centre, NEWCASTLE Hunter Valley Gardens, POKOLBIN Linton Gardens Reception and Function Centre, SOMERSBY Memories Function Centre, WALLSEND Wedding Caterer Offsite Fig Tree Restaurant / Byron Bay Weddings, BYRON BAY WINNER - Hot Rock Events and Catering, MEREWETHER
NORTHERN NSW TOURISM AWARD 2012 Northern NSW Tourism Restaurant Sponsored by Destination NSW WINNER - Esca Bimbadgen, POKOLBIN Roadies Café, GLOUCESTER CONSUMER VOTE AWARD 2012 Northern NSW Consumer Vote Award Sponsored by Savour Australia Kathmandu Kitchen, KINGSCLIFF MAJOR AWARDS Hunter / Central Coast Caterer of the Year WINNER - Caves Beachside Cuisine, CAVES BEACH Northern / New England Caterer of the Year WINNER - Bonville Golf Resort, BONVILLE Hunter / Central Coast Restaurant of the Year WINNER - Muse Restaurant and Café, POKOLBIN Northern / New England Restaurant of the Year WINNER - Fig Tree Restaurant, BYRON BAY