Four Tasmanian restaurants vying for Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards
From world-class martinis to truffle-laden menus, Tasmania's finest restaurants have dominated the shortlist for Australia's top hospitality honours. SEE WHO MADE THE CUT >>
Tasmania
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tasmania. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Four Tasmanian restaurants have made the annual shortlist celebrating Australia’s top hospitality talent and most exciting dining experiences, marking 45 years of the country’s longest-running restaurant awards, The Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards.
Luke Burgess’ Scholé has been named a finalist for Best New Restaurant, while The Agrarian Kitchen in New Norfolk is up for the Best Destination Dining gong and Institut Polaire is in the running for Bar of the Year.
Launceston’s Stillwater Restaurant has been named a finalist for the Readers Choice Icon Award.
Institut Polaire owner Louise Radman said it had been “an incredible journey” for herself and husband Nav Singh.
“Both myself and my husband have a long background in wine and hospitality, and we were really keen when we moved to Tasmania to embrace the cold climate ideal and open a venue that would be world class and celebrate the fact of Tasmania’s cold climate. So that’s where the idea of Institut Polaire was born,” she explained.
Ms Radman said the competition was fierce and it was a “fantastic accolade” for Tasmania to be recognised on the national stage.
“Everyone in hospitality works hard, and everyone deserves to be a winner, and I think it’s just really great for us to be able to be recognised at this level,” she said.
“It’s a testament to our whole team who works very hard. You know, hospitality is day in, day out, all year. If you can get this type of recognition, it’s a fantastic thing for us to celebrate and to also be able to share with our customers and our visitors to Tasmania as well.”
The boutique wine bar seats 30 to 40 people, with a mix of loyal locals and tourists, as well as new customers via word of mouth recommendations.
“I think you can feel that when you come to Institut Polaire that while you know, our theme is all about celebrating the cold climate, when you come and visit us, it’s actually a very warm experience at heart,” Ms Radman said.
As for the secret to their martinis, which Gourmet Traveller touts as “Tasmania’s best”, Ms Radman says it’s all in their signature gin.
“We call it an Antarctic Dry Gin, because Antarctica is the coldest, driest, windiest place on Earth, and it’s very pure,” she explained.
“So triple distilled, we use all organic and lots of local botanicals, so things like kombu from the Southern Ocean and Tasmania mountain pepperberry.”
While their beverages are obviously a big drawcard, so too is their food.
“At the moment, we have been showcasing the beautiful winter truffles from Truffles of Tasmania, so we have a fantastically diverse offering in that you can come and sit and have a martini and a snack, or you can come for a full seasonal set menu and have a fantastic dinner.
“We’re looking forward to spring, myself and my chef, Oliver Gallagher, have been working on a new dish, which will be a seafood forward version of a carbonara featuring a smoked Tasmanian swordfish, so that’s something special.”
The winners will be announced at an exclusive ceremony taking place for the first time in Tasmania, at The Henry Jones Art Hotel on Monday, August 18.
Originally published as Four Tasmanian restaurants vying for Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards
First MPs revealed: New faces secure seats in Tas parliament
Nine MPs have secured their seats in Tasmania's new parliament as vote counting begins, with independent candidates among the top vote winners.
‘Daddy was stabbed’: Crazed golf club attack on brother-in-law
A Tasmanian man who smashed a golf club on the arm of his sister’s partner, stabbed him in the back with it and threatened to kill him has learned his fate in court.