Quest For The Best

  
 
   
Press Release                                                                 18 March 2009
 
Quest For The Best

Cuisine NZ Restaurant of the Year Awards 2009 - Open for Entries
 
Cuisine magazine, New Zealand's leading authority on food, wine and good living, is calling for entries in the fifth annual Cuisine NZ Restaurant of the Year Awards, proudly sponsored by Mercedes-Benz.
 
Eric Matthews, editor of Cuisine, says, "Cuisine aims to promote excellence in the food, wine and restaurant industry nationwide by putting the spotlight on the best eating establishments throughout New Zealand." Since 2003 the Cuisine NZ Restaurant of the Year Awards has set the industry benchmark for restaurant awards and is an opportunity for outstanding restaurants to be showcased and gain due recognition.
 
Lauraine Jacobs, head judge of the Cuisine NZ Restaurant of the Year, comments: "We are seeking restaurants that have set themselves clear goals and know what it takes to set their restaurant apart from the competition. In this difficult economic climate we will be looking for restaurants that understand how to provide their customers with a special dining experience through offering great service, great food and great wine in congenial surroundings. Diners' perception of restaurants offering fair value for money will also be important."
 
Judges will be searching for New Zealand's Best Smart-Dining Experience, Best Casual-Dining Experience (Metropolitan), Best Casual-Dining Experience (Regional), Best Neighbourhood Restaurant (Metropolitan) and Best Winery Restaurant, as well as the overall Supreme Winner.
 
The judging panel again comprises leading food and wine experts from throughout New Zealand, all professional reviewers, chefs or having extensive experience in the hospitality industry. For the final selection process of category winners and the Supreme Winner, the panel will be joined by Matt Preston, senior editor for Vogue Entertaining + Travel, restaurant critic for the Melbourne Age, judge for Channel Ten's MasterChef and named Best Food Journalist in the 2007 Le Cordon Bleu World Media Awards.
 
The Cuisine NZ Restaurant of the Year 2008 Supreme Winner was Matterhorn in Wellington. Christian McCabe of Matterhorn says, "Winning the Supreme Award was a major milestone on the Matterhorn journey. We have been many things to many people over the years. Winning this award was an opportunity for everyone involved to feel very proud of what the restaurant personally means to them, as well as giving us the opportunity to open the doors to many new regular guests."
 
Roger Zagorski, Executive General Manager for Mercedes-Benz New Zealand, is proud to be involved for the third year in a row as associate sponsor of these awards.
 
"Mercedes-Benz and Cuisine share a commitment to outstanding quality and attention to detail. Year after year the finalist restaurants dedication to creating exceptional dining experiences make these awards world-class," says Zagorski.
 
The judging for the awards is anonymous. All the finalists will be judged during May and June, and profiled in the July 2009 issue of Cuisine. The head judge and international guest judge will then re-visit a short-list of the finalists to select the top restaurants. The Supreme Winner and category winners will be announced in the September 2009 issue, on sale in late August.
 
Entry into the Cuisine NZ Restaurant of the Year Awards 2009 is open to all New Zealand restaurants or cafés that have been operating for at least six months and must be received before Wednesday 8 April. Entry forms can be downloaded from www.cuisine.co.nz
 

Cuisine NZ Restaurant of the Year 2008 Supreme and Category Winners
 
Supreme Winner and Best Casual Dining - Metropolitan
Matterhorn, Wellington
 
Runner-Up Best Casual Dining - Metropolitan
Plato, Birch St, Dunedin
 
Best Smart Dining
The French Café, Auckland
Supreme Winner 2006, Runner-Up Smart Dining 2007
 
Runner-Up Best Smart Dining
Martin Bosley's, Wellington
Supreme Winner 2007
 
Best Casual Dining - Regional
Wendy Campbell's French Bistro, Martinborough, Wairarapa
 
Runner-Up Best Casual Dining - Regional
Riverstone Kitchen, SH1, Oamaru
 
Best Wine Experience
O'Connell Street Bistro, Auckland
Winner, Best Wine Experience, 2007
 
Best Winery Restaurant
Pegasus Bay Winery Restaurant, Amberley, Waipara  
 
Runner-Up Best Winery Restaurant
Terrôir at Craggy Range  
Havelock North
 

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