Cairns restaurant stalwart honoured at food excellence awards
The region’s top restaurants, cafes and chefs have been crowned as the industry formally pays homage to 30-year veteran of the Far North food scene. See the full list of winners
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THE region’s top restaurants, cafes, chefs and caterers have been crowned as the industry formally pays homage to 30-year veteran of the Far North food scene.
Exceptional service and culinary talent within the Cairns and Port Douglas restaurant and catering industry has been showcased at an awards night celebrating the best of the food service industry.
More than 60 restaurants, cafes and catering businesses gathered at Pullman Reef Hotel Casino last Monday to celebrate the winners.
Owner of Ochre Restaurant and Tropic Spirit Catering Craig Squire after close to three decades of producing fine food in Cairns was awarded with the lifetime achievement award.
“It’s really good, very rewarding and humbling,” he said.
“I feel I have contributed where I can to promoting food, agri-tourism and local produce, (so) it was nice for me to get that recognition after 28 years here in Cairns.”
CC’s Bar and Grill by Crystalbrook took out the restaurant of the year for the second year running.
The Chambers in the Cairns CBD was another big winner taking home the best cafe dining, best breakfast and casual dining award following up a 2021 best chef award won by Chris Jarvis.
And Chriso The Personal Chef won caterer of the year for the second consecutive year.
Restaurant and Catering Awards chief executive Belinda Clarke congratulated all the winners.
“The past two years have been incredibly tough for the entire hospitality industry in Australia but success stories like this show how far hard work can take you,” she said.
“With the right mix of staff, products, produce and service, the results can be extraordinary.”
Caterers are assessed on all aspects of the catering business including operations, food, service and staffing to determine the catering category winners.
Anonymous judges visit venues and evaluate an experience based on food and customer service.
The Awards for Excellence is the only program in Australia where the judging criteria is determined by consumers who rank what is important to them in the dining experience.
MAJOR AWARDS
Restaurant of the year
CC’s Bar and Grill by Crystalbrook
Casual dining of the year
The Chambers
Caterer of the year
Chriso The Personal Chef, Holloways Beach
Restaurateurs of the year
Spencer and Reina Patrick
Young achiever
Vincenzo Di Cugno
Lifetime achiever
Craig Squire
RESTAURANT AWARDS
Asian restaurant
Hanuman Restaurant, Darwin, Miss Songs Asian Kitchen – The Ville Resort-Casino, Paper Crane by Crystalbrook and Temple of Tastes Restaurant – Pullman Palm Cove Sea Temple Resort & Spa
Breakfast restaurant
The Chambers and Wild Thyme
Cafe dining
The Chambers and Wild Thyme
Family dining
Kai, Port Douglas, Muddy’s Café and Star Graze – Cowboys Leagues Club, Townsville
Italian restaurant
L’Unico Trattoria, Trinity Beach, Ollie’s Italian and Vitalia’s Italian Restaurant
Restaurant in a hotel/resort
CC’s Bar and Grill by Crystalbrook, Hanuman Restaurant – Doubletree by Hilton Hotel and Harrisons Restaurant – Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort
Restaurant in a pub/club
The Bluewater Bar & Grill
Seafood restaurant
Tha Fish, Waterfront Seafood Bar and Grill, Yeppoon and Wrasse & Roe, Port Douglas
Specialty restaurant
Seabean Tapas Bar and Restaurant, Port Douglas
HOSPITALITY STAFF & BUSINESS AWARDS
Chef of the year
Catherine Pacey – Wild Thyme
Finalists
Igor de Andrade Carneiro – C’est Bon, Nirav Patel – The Ville Resort-Casino, Richard Beddell – Waterfront Seafood Bar and Grill and Vitalia Zanda – Vitalia’s Italian Restaurant
Apprentice chef of the year
Reegan Maggenti – The Ville Resort-Casino
Manager/supervisor of the year
Collette Seage – The Ville Resort-Casino
CATERING AWARDS
Events caterer
Chriso The Personal Chef, Holloways Beach
Restaurant caterer
C’est Bon Catering and Gathering, Cairns
Wedding caterer
Chriso The Personal Chef, Holloways Beach
Consumer vote award
Guyala Café, Cairns North
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