MEDIA RELEASE IMMEDIATE TUESDAY 27 OCTOBER RESTAURANTS VOUR BEST DINING SPOTS IN 2015 Sydney s Quay restaurant has won the Restaurant of the Year award for the second consecutive year at the largest consumer-led restaurant awards in Australia. More than 400 guests gathered in Brisbane last to celebrate the Savour Australia TM Restaurant & Catering HOSTPLUS National Awards for Excellence. The awards recognise hospitality operators that provide exceptional service, demonstrate culinary excellence, and great value for money. The Awards for Excellence criteria are determined by consumers who rank what is important to them in the dining experience. The winners of the major award categories include: Quay, The Rocks Restaurant of the Year; Blond Catering Austral Bricks Design Studio, Marrickville, NSW Caterer of the Year; National Wine Centre, Adelaide George Mure Memorial Professional Development Award; Compass Group, Melbourne Zoo Green Table Award for Excellence in Environmental Sustainability Sofitel, Brisbane Innovative Workplace Training Award. In addition to their major awards, Blond Catering also won best Venue Caterer and Quay took out the Fine Dining Restaurant category. This is the second year Quay has been crowned Restaurant of the Year, having also received the award in 2014. Restaurant & Catering Australia (R&CA) CEO John Hart congratulates all winners and finalists on their achievements. Tonight we recognise the best of the best in our industry. Special congratulations must go to the team at Quay who have won Restaurant of the Year two consecutive years in a row. It is a testament to their hard work in delivering exceptional dining experiences year after year. It is quite fitting Quay is awarded this accolade in Brisbane, which will become the home of a flagship Fink Group restaurant in 2016. The Brisbane dining scene will be richer with the addition of this restaurateur s passion and skill, Mr Hart says. The National Awards for Excellence also marks the launch of R&CA s SavourSummer campaign - a national social media photo competition aimed at capturing the nation s favourite restaurant dishes. This year s theme is SavourSunday capturing great meals enjoyed on weekends. Mr Hart says the competition underlines the importance of social media in promoting the exceptional food experiences provided by the hospitality industry. Dining out is the most popular out-of-home activity for Australians on weekends. What better way
MEDIA RELEASE IMMEDIATE TUESDAY 27 OCTOBER to capture these experiences than through photos collected and shared by customers over the summer trading period. The digital age is upon us, with Smartphone ownership estimated at around 81 per cent in Australia. Customers share their meals on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Businesses cannot ignore this channel in promoting their business, says Mr Hart. Consumers participating in the competition must upload their Sunday dining pictures using the hashtag #SavourSunday and tag the establishment location, then register on the campaign website savoursunday.com.au to win. R&CA has partnered with Singapore Airlines to offer the diner with the best Sunday photo a trip to Japan to enjoy either lunch or dinner at Luke Mangan s Salt in Tokyo. I am confident the competition will highlight the best people, produce and places that make our weekend cafe and restaurant culture great. Our dining experiences are a key feature of Tourism Australia s ongoing Restaurant Australia campaign, Mr Hart says. ABOUT VOUR AUSTRALIA The Savour Australia TM Restaurant & Catering HOSTPLUS Awards for Excellence is a nationally recognised, independently judged awards program that highlights exceptional service, culinary excellence, incredible ambience and value for money. Savour Australia is R&CA's consumer brand, aimed at promoting and profiling caterers, restaurants and café businesses to avid diners. The Savour Australia website offers diners one of the largest online directories of restaurants and cafes to search and book from. Join the conversation on the Awards for Excellence at Savour Australia #savourawards https://www.facebook.com/savouraustralia https://instagram.com/savouraus/ https://twitter.com/savouraus/ < ENDS >
RESTAURANT ARDS 2015 NATIONAL WINNERS ASIAN RESTAURANT Sponsored by OpenTable TAS Me Wah Restaurant, NDY BAY BAKERY / PATISSERIE Sponsored by Bulla Red Chocolate Tree, LE BEER CAFÉ / WINE BAR Sponsored by Lion Bavarian Bier Café, BROADBEACH BREAKFAST RESTAURANT Sponsored by Bulla The Counter Espresso, HAWTHORN BURGER CAFÉ Sponsored by Bidvest NSW - Sydney Burger Project Australia, SYDNEY CAFÉ RESTAURANT Sponsored by Di Bella Coffee - Regional The Pickled Sisters Café, HGUNYAH
CHINESE RESTAURANT Sponsored by Commonwealth Bank NSW - Sydney The Century Restaurant, PYRMONT COFFEE SHOP / TEA HOUSE Sponsored by Beloka Water Coffee Club, KALAMUNDA CONTEMPORARY AUSTRALIAN RESTAURANT Sponsored by Alsco - Regional Omy Restaurant, BEACONSFIELD EUROPEAN RESTAURANT Sponsored by ComCater & Rational George's on Waymouth, ADELAIDE FAMILY DINING RESTAURANT Sponsored by American Express Cucina Nuova, HENLEY BEACH FINE DINING RESTAURANT Sponsored by Alsco NSW - Sydney Quay, THE ROCKS Brae, BIRREGURRA (REGIONAL WINNER) GREEK RESTAURANT Sponsored by Commercial Energy Brokers Australia Hellenic Republic, EAST BRUNSWICK INDIAN / SUB-CONTINENT RESTAURANT Indian Empire on Runaway Bay, RUNAY BAY ITALIAN RESTAURANT Sponsored by Entertainment Publications Chianti, ADELAIDE JAPANESE RESTAURANT Sponsored by American Express Saké Restaurant & Bar, BRISBANE NEW RESTAURANT Sponsored by H&L Australia Kiyomi - Jupiters Hotel & Casino, BROADBEACH
PIZZA RESTAURANT Sponsored by Tiger Corp Trattoria Amici - RACV Royal Pines Resort, BENO RESTAURANT IN A HOTEL / MOTEL / RESORT Sponsored by Commonwealth Bank Bistro On3 - Sofitel Gold Coast, BROADBEACH RESTAURANT IN A PUB / CLUB / TAVERN Sponsored by Lion Malt at the Brewery, TOWNSVILLE RESTAURANT IN A WINERY Wild Dog Winery Restaurant, RRAGUL SEAFOOD RESTAURANT Sponsored by Beloka Water Mosmans Restaurant, MOSMAN PARK SMALL BAR Sponsored by Lion Bar Torino, ADELAIDE SPECIALTY RESTAURANT Sponsored by APRA AMCOS Meeka Restaurant, SUBIACO STEAK RESTAURANT Sponsored by Bidvest NSW - Sydney The Cut Bar & Grill, THE ROCKS SUSHI BAR Sponsored by Arthur J Gallagher Sushi Train Unley Metro, HYDE PARK TAPAS RESTAURANT Sponsored by APRA AMCOS NSW - Sydney Postales Restaurant and Tapas Bar, SYDNEY THAI RESTAURANT Sponsored by Arthur J Gallagher Golden Boy, ADELAIDE PEOPLE, PRODUCT & PLACE TOURISM RESTAURANT Sponsored by Tourism Australia Jack Rabbit Vineyard Restaurant, BELLARINE CATERING ARDS
CORPORATE CATERER Sponsored by American Express NSW - Sydney Commonwealth Bank of Australia, SYDNEY EVENTS CATERER Sponsored by Beloka Water ACT Hyatt Hotel Canberra, YARRALUMLA FUNCTION / CONVENTION CENTRE CATERER Sponsored by ComCater & Rational Fenix Events, RICHMOND INDUSTRIAL / INSTITUTIONAL CATERER Alliance Catering - Geelong Grammar School, CORIO NEW CATERER Sponsored by H&L Australia ACT Bookplate Café - National Library of Australia, PARKES RESTAURANT CATERER Sponsored by Alsco Windy Point Café & Pavilion, BELAIR SITE-CONTRACT CATERER Sponsored by Arthur J Gallagher ACT Trippas White Group - Australian Institute of Sport, BRUCE SMALL CATERER Sponsored by Commonwealth Bank Creative Catering, NGARA VENUE CATERER Sponsored by Commercial Energy Brokers Australia NSW - Sydney Blond Catering - Austral Bricks Design Studio, MARRICKVILLE WEDDING CATERER Sponsored by APRA AMCOS Atlantic Group, DOCKLANDS MAJOR ARDS CATERER OF THE YEAR Sponsored By Arthur J Gallagher NSW - Sydney Blond Catering - Austral Bricks Design Studio, MARRICKVILLE RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR NSW - Sydney Quay, THE ROCKS
GEORGE MURE MEMORIAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ARD National Wine Centre, ADELAIDE GREEN TABLE ARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY Sponsored by Green Table Australia Compass Group Melbourne Zoo INNOVATIVE WORKPLACE TRAINING ARD Sofitel, BRISBANE