Lewisham Awards Announced

Lewisham Awards Announced

Hospitality industry salutes its peers

Peer recognition is probably the most valuable accolade in any industry. But probably no more so than in hospitality.

And hospitality has last night (June 7) acknowledged the prowess of its sociable competitors with the announcement of the winners in the 14th annual Lewisham Awards.

Lewisham Foundation Chair Chris Upton says competition has been fierce in 2015.

“Results in many of the categories this year have been very tight – especially the Gilmours Outstanding Chef and Restaurant Association of New Zealand Outstanding Sales Representative
– which to me demonstrates our industry is in excellent heart,” Upton says.

“The fact there are only two winners from 2014 that have made the honours board this year also reinforces the dynamic nature of the hospitality industry in Auckland and the wide selection of quality establishments.”

While there are only two repeat winners in 2015, three establishments have taken two awards each at tonight’s glittering industry event at Shed 10 on Auckland’s waterfront.

Parnell’s newest restaurant Woodpecker Hill - which opened its doors only this year - has taken awards for General Digital Outstanding Maître d’ for Ash Visvanathan and Menumate Outstanding New Venue.

On the other hand, Monsoon Poon is a veritable veteran of 10 years but can still command respect from the industry with Nicola Richards taking awards for Moet Hennessy Outstanding Hospitality Personality and Pernod Ricard Outstanding Restaurateur.

Established Ponsonby bar Mea Culpa reinforces its reputation as the bolt-hole-of-the-moment-to-be-seen-at taking out awards for Beam Suntory Outstanding Bar – the second year in a row it has taken the accolade - and for Kate Rose, Angostura Outstanding Bartender.

Celebrating the fact there are some notable veterans who deliver a first class dining experience, industry stalwart and multi-award winner Michael Meredith from Mt Eden’s intimate degustation restaurant Meredith’s is this year’s Gilmours Outstanding Chef.

And continuing the seasoned pro theme, the 11 year young The Grove wins the EuroVintage Outstanding Wine List award.

Another second-time winner is Coco’s Cantina for OneMusic Outstanding Establishment backing up awards to Damaris Coulter last year for Outstanding Hospitality Personality and Outstanding Restaurateur awards.

Crombie Lockwood Outstanding Waiter is Des Dillon from Soul Bar while Rohan Satam from Wine Chambers is the winner of the Aotearoa Fisheries Emerging Talent award. Waterfront Auckland Outstanding Local goes to Mo’s Bar and MASU’s Meg Abbott-Walker is Negociants Outstanding Wine Service Professional.

LittleWolf and the Produce Company take home awards for Fine Foods NZ Outstanding Caterer and Spark Business Outstanding Supplier respectively. Eighthirty in Karangahape Rd wins the award for L’affare Outstanding Coffee Establishment / Barista and Mineral Wines’ James Barber is the Restaurant Association of New Zealand’s Outstanding Sales Representative for 2015.

The full list of winners at the 14th Annual Lewisham Awards is:

Angostura Outstanding Bartender
Kate Rose, Mea Culpa

Beam Suntory Outstanding Bar
Mea Culpa

L’affare Outstanding Coffee Establishment/Barista
EightThirty

Crombie Lockwood Outstanding Waiter
Des Dillon, Soul Bar

EuroVintage Outstanding Wine List
The Grove

General Digital Outstanding Maitre d’
Ash Visvanathan, Woodpecker Hill

Gilmours Outstanding Chef
Michael Meredith, Meredith’s

Menumate Outstanding New Venue
Woodpecker Hill

Aotearoa Fisheries Emerging Talent
Rohan Satam, Wine Chambers

Moet Hennessy Outstanding Hospitality Personality
Nicola Richards, Monsoon Poon

Negociants Outstanding Wine Service Professional
Meg Abbott-Walker, MASU

OneMusic Outstanding Establishment
Coco’s Cantina

Pernod Ricard Outstanding Restaurateur
Nicola Richards, Monsoon Poon

Restaurant Association of New Zealand Outstanding Sales Representative
James Barber, Mineral Wines

Fine Food NZ Outstanding Caterer
LittleWolf

Spark Business Outstanding Supplier
The Produce Company

Waterfront Auckland Outstanding Local
Mo’s Bar

ENDS

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