Bauer foodie title Gourmet Traveller has today unveiled the finalists in its annual Gourmet Traveller‘s Restaurant Awards, in the issue on stands today. The awards, which launch the publication of Australia’s only national restaurant guide, put the spotlight on the most essential movers and shakers in the food world.
Finalists are nominated across seven hotly contested categories: New Restaurant of the Year; Wine List of the Year; Sommelier of the Year; Maître d’ of the Year; Regional Restaurant of the Year; Best New Talent; and Bar of the Year.
Gourmet Traveller editor Anthea Loucas says: “Our readers are always looking for the next level of excellence – they’ve got a thirst for new adventures as well as a deep appreciation of simple things done well. I’m very proud to be able to celebrate the country’s most exciting talent in these awards, and in the new edition of the Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide.”
The winners will be announced at an event held on Wednesday 19 August and published in the 2016 Australian Restaurant Guide, on sale with the magazine on Thursday 20 August.
“There’s lots here to like,” said Gourmet Traveller chief restaurant critic Pat Nourse. “It’s been a really busy year, and lots of young Australians have been putting the hard yards to up the stakes with their food and their restaurants. They haven’t made our jobs as judges easy, but we’re lucky to have them, and however the chips fall with these awards, Australian drinkers and diners are the winners.”
BEST NEW TALENT
• Tyson, Blayne, & Chayse Bertoncello, O My, Melbourne, VIC
• Lennox Hastie, Firedoor, Sydney, NSW
• Federico Zanellato, LuMi Dining, Sydney, NSW
NEW RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
• Firedoor, Sydney, NSW
• Africola, Adelaide, SA
• Franklin, Hobart, TAS
WINE LIST OF THE YEAR
• Billy Kwong, Sydney, NSW
• Fleet, Brunswick Heads, NSW
• Farmhouse Restaurant at Pialligo Estate, Canberra, ACT
SOMMELIER OF THE YEAR
• Raffaele Mastrovincenzo, Kappo, Melbourne, VIC
• Ian Trinkle, Aria Brisbane, QLD
• Cassaly Fitzgerald, Appellation, Marananga, SA
MAÎTRE D’ OF THE YEAR
• Randoph Cheung, Minamishima, Melbourne, VIC
• Vanessa Crichton, Rosetta, Melbourne, VIC
• Cam Fairbairn, Acme, Sydney, NSW
REGIONAL RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
• Brae, Birregurra, VIC
• Fleet, Brunswick Heads, NSW
• Three Blue Ducks, Byron Bay, NSW
BAR OF THE YEAR
• Bar Clarine, Melbourne, VIC
• The Gresham, Brisbane, QLD
• This Must Be the Place, Sydney, NSW