· King of Snake voted Supreme Establishment of the Year, wins three Awards
· Smokey Ts nabs Outstanding People’s Choice for 4th time running
Celebrating the best in regional hospitality, the Restaurant Association has announced the winners of the Canterbury Hospitality Awards, with some old favourites taking top honours alongside emerging new establishments making their mark for the first time. With the support of lead partner Trents Wholesale, the awards acknowledge the region’s outstanding hospitality professionals and places and their positive impact on the dining, and bar scene.
Restaurant Association Chief Executive Marisa Bidois says 20 awards were presented and congratulates all finalists and winners. “Consistency and quality are what puts great establishments on the map, and quality is what the Canterbury Hospitality Awards recognise today. Christchurch and surrounds are richer for our hospitality leaders and our winners are at the top of their game, delivering great experiences and flavours that keep patrons coming back for more.”
Leading the winners is celebrated dining destination, King of Snake. Freshly refurbished and offering a delightful modern take on Asian cuisine, the expansive restaurant offers delectable cuisine combined with ambient appeal, particularly from the outdoor balcony overlooking the Avon River. Landing the Trents Supreme Establishment Award puts King of Snake in rarefied company and makes it a must-visit for city-centre diners. Attention to detail extends beyond the menu, with King of Snake winning the OneMusic Outstanding Ambience and Design award, and the Service Foods Outstanding Restaurant.
The always-popular Outstanding People’s Choice award sponsored by The Hits, meanwhile, goes to Smokey Ts for the fourth consecutive year. With the ever-growing popularity of gourmet BBQ, Smokey Ts is led by award-winning pit master and former executive chef Tristin Anderson. It’s ‘low and slow’ BBQ with menu highlights that include 10 hour smoked brisket serves, 6 hour smoked pork belly, and 2 hour smoked jerk chicken, as well as classic ribs and delicious sides. Enough to make the mouth water.
In a challenging environment for new and existing businesses, the New Establishment category is especially poignant. Taking out the honours is Londo in Merivale’s Papanui Road. The brainchild of Robert Fairs with a focus on quality in every respect, the establishment has won enviable reviews and now adds two Restaurant Association awards to its growing list of accolades. That’s because Fairs is also awarded the Anchor Food Professionals Outstanding Chef.
Fresh on the back of positive press in the Otago Daily Times recognising his culinary talents, Freddy Nordt has taken out the Mt Cook Alpine Salmon Emerging Chef award for his work at Black Estate. Nordt also recently featured as a Restaurant Association event chef, making 2022 a resoundingly good year for this up and comer. Black Estate also features, winning the Southern Hospitality Outstanding Regional Establishment award.
Special mention is reserved for Pegasus Bay’s events manager Belinda Donaldson, a well-known personality in the region who takes the Trents Supreme Individual in this year’s Awards.
In addition to celebrating the success of all the winners, the Association also inducted globally celebrated chef and businessman Mark Gregory to the prestigious Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. “We’re thrilled to recognise Mark for his remarkable career throughout which he has not only built many successful businesses both within hospitality and elsewhere, but also consistently and generously given back to the community,” says Bidois. She notes that inductions are bestowed on outstanding industry personalities who have made substantial contributions to the industry through their businesses and wider involvement and influence in hospitality.
Bidois says Canterbury is bouncing back from recent adversity with alacrity, led by these finalists and award winners. “The region has so much to offer from a hospitality perspective. Not only is Canterbury a highly productive agricultural region with stunning natural appeal, but it is also home to a thriving industry ready to welcome New Zealand and the world. I encourage everyone to get out and enjoy a night on the town at any of our fine establishments and say ‘congratulations’ in the best way possible – by enjoying the great hospitality on offer right on your doorstep.”
The winners were announced at a sell-out awards ceremony held at Te Pae: Christchurch Convention Centre on Monday, 17 October 2022.
All the winners: Canterbury Hospitality Awards Winners 2022
Meadow Fresh Outstanding Barista – Fumihiko Takai Espresso Studio
Grey Goose Outstanding Bartender – Meredith Earle, Austin Club
Tevalis Outstanding Front of House Team – 5th Street
Anchor Food Professionals Outstanding Chef – Robert Fairs, Londo
Ara Te Pukenga Emerging Front of House – Sam Schwartfeger, 5th Street
Mt Cook Alpine Salmon Emerging Chef – Freddy Nordt, Black Estate
Menulog Outstanding Street Food/Casual Dining – Bar Yoku
Coca Cola Europacific Partners Outstanding Café – Child Sister
Wine Education Co. Outstanding Wine & Beverage List – Cellar Door
Antipodes Water Outstanding New Establishment – Londo
Pernod Ricard Outstanding Bar – The Last Word
Southern Hospitality Outstanding Regional Establishment – Black Estate
OneMusic Outstanding Ambience & Design – King of Snake
Service Foods Outstanding Restaurant – King of Snake
Restaurant Association of NZ Outstanding Sales Rep Andy John Allen – Punky Brewster
Lumina Lamb Outstanding Supplier – ServiceIQ
The Hits Outstanding People’s Choice – Smokey Ts
Trents Supreme Award – Establishment – King of Snake
Trents Supreme Award – Individual – Belinda Donaldson