Restaurant Association Announces NZ Culinary Fare Winners

Media Release

22 August, 2014

Restaurant Association Announces NZ Culinary Fare Winners

Auckland, 22 August 2014 – Six hundred competitors in 60 classes gave their all in three days of competition at the 22nd annual New Zealand Culinary Fare, concluding this week in Auckland.

Held for the first time in the event’s new home – the Vodafone Events Centre – high school students, hospitality apprentices and seasoned industry professionals tested themselves against their peers in the largest hot kitchen competition in the Southern Hemisphere.

Marisa Bidois, CEO of the Restaurant Association says that the standard of competition was higher than ever, with winners of the major awards coming from all over New Zealand.

“It has been a great year for the Culinary Fare. We have been genuinely impressed with the level of competition, the enthusiasm and skill of the competitors and growing support from the public.”

NZ Culinary Fare 2014 Major Award Winners:

•NZ Chef of the Year, sponsored by Moffat Ltd and Southern Hospitality
William Mordido, Chikos Restaurant & Café (West Auckland)

•NZ Pastry Chef of the Year, sponsored by Sky City
Anita Su Jung Chung, Pullman (Auckland)

•NZ Commis Chef of the Year sponsored by the NZ Chefs Association
Tai Trong Nguyen, Waipuna Hotel (Auckland)

•NZ Training Food and Beverage Person of the Year, sponsored by Restaurant and Catering News – (“R&C News”)
Xiangying Zan, NZ Management Academies (Auckland)

•Training Excellence Award, sponsored by Gilmours
The Cornell Education Group (Auckland)

•Secondary Schools Excellence Award, sponsored by ServiceIQ –(“group photo”)
Kerikeri High School

•Toque d’Or, organised by Nestle Professional in association with vegetables.co.nz, NZ Chefs Association, Beef & Lamb NZ, Akaroa Salmon and House of Knives
Otago Polytech Cromwell Campus

•Training Team of the Year, sponsored by City & Guilds -
Western Institute of Technology (Taranaki)

•NZ Bartender of the Year, sponsored by De Kuyper
Michael Wood, Pullman (Auckland)

•The Service IQ Cookery Modern Apprentice of the Year, sponsored by ServiceIQ
Nikolas Han, Pacific International Hotel Management School (Taranaki)

Restaurant Association Annual Awards
Earlier this week, the Restaurant Association announced its annual awards, inducting Christchurch restaurateur Michael Turner to its Hall of Fame, recognising New Plymouth restaurateur Barbara Olsen-Henderson as the industry’s inaugural Good Neighbour Award winner and bestowing the Innovator Award on technology loyalty company EFTPlus, for its work helping hospitality businesses to build more profitable customer relationships.

Marisa Bidois, CEO of the Restaurant Association says that Michael Turner, Barbara Olsen-Henderson and EFTPlus have all made exceptional contributions to the hospitality sector.

“Michael’s support for Canterbury restaurant and café owners in the devastating aftermath of the earthquakes has been outstanding. Barbara’s devotion and fundraising for deserving causes in her local community is a fine example to us all and EFTPlus is using smart technology to help even the smallest of hospitality businesses to connect with customers and build strong relationships.”

Ends

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