Reserve Your Table at New Zealand’s Finest

PRESS RELEASE : 6 OCTOBER 2005

RESERVE YOUR TABLE AT NEW ZEALAND’S FINEST

Cuisine Restaurant of the Year Awards Announce the Finalists

Cuisine magazine has announced the 25 finalists in the second year of its Restaurant of the Year Awards – proudly supported by Singapore Airlines.

Simon Wilson, editor of Cuisine, says, “Cuisine aims to promote excellence in the food, wine and restaurant industry throughout New Zealand by putting the spotlight on the best establishments nationwide – the 25 finalists are all deserving of this spotlight.”

The judging panel of these benchmark Awards has selected the finalists from a total of 110 restaurants that entered earlier in the year and they now begin an intense period of judging, which will take place anonymously over the next two months.

Head Judge and Cuisine Food Editor, Lauraine Jacobs, comments, “It has been interesting to note that New Zealand is following the same trend throughout the rest of the world where the restaurant experience does not have to be fine dining to be terrific. We have seen a huge surge in restaurants that offer a smaller selection of dishes and a casual approach.”

Jacobs continues, “What is also interesting to note is how different this year’s list of finalists is compared to last year. Restaurateurs are raising the bar all the time and we are seeing a lot of changes in the industry including new restaurants, new chefs, chefs moving to new roles – the finalists list is incredibly impressive and diners are being treated to new tastes, exceptional service and regional flavours across New Zealand.”

And, any insight into who will be the winner, announced early next year? Jacobs comments, “We learnt last year that knowing the market is the key to success. Know and recognise what your market is and deliver it to them. We look forward to evaluating what each of these finalists has to offer over the coming months.”

Judges will now dine in all of the finalist restaurants to select winners across the three categories:

- Best Restaurant - Metropolitan (Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch)

- Best Restaurant - Provincial

- Best Winery Restaurant

The supreme winner – Cuisine Restaurant of the Year 2006 - will be chosen from these three categories. Excellence will also be acknowledged across finalist restaurants with Cuisine Highly Recommended awards in areas such as outstanding service, food and/or wine programmes.

CUISINE RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 2006: THE FINALISTS

METROPOLITAN RESTAURANTS
Cibo
Parnell, Auckland
A finalist last year

Dine by Peter Gordon
SkyCity Grand Hotel, Auckland

Molten
Mt Eden, Auckland

Soul Bar and Bistro
Viaduct Harbour, Auckland
Winner of “best service” award last year

The French Café
City, Auckland
A finalist last year

The Grove
St Patrick’s Square, Auckland

Arbitrageur Wine Room & Restaurant
Featherston St, Wellington

Café Bastille
Majoribanks St, Wellington
Last year’s overall winner

Citron Restaurant
Willis St, Wellington
A finalist last year

Logan Brown Restaurant & Bar
Cnr Cuba & Vivian Sts, Wellington
Winner in the “best wine service” category last year

Martin Bosley's Yacht Club Restaurant
Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club, Wellington

Shed 5
Queens Wharf, Wellington

Minx Dining Room & Bar
Lichfield St, Christchurch

Saggio di vino
Victoria St, Christchurch

PROVINCIAL RESTAURANTS
Somerset Cottage
Tauranga

The Bach
Taupo

Ambrosia
Paraparaumu Beach, Kapiti Coast

Herzog Winery & Luxury Restaurant
Blenheim

Saffron
Arrowtown

The Postmaster's House
Arrowtown
A finalist last year

Conservatory Restaurant
Dunedin

WINERY RESTAURANTS
Te Awa Winery & Restaurant
Hastings

Terrôir at Craggy Range
Havelock North

Wairau River Wines
Blenheim

Amisfield Winery Bistro
Queenstown

ENDS

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