Monique Fiso’s Hiakai picks up three awards while Soul Shack Hot Chicken takes out People’s Choice
The Wellington hospitality industry acknowledged the outstanding abilities of its own with the announcement of the winners at the Felix Wellington Hospitality Awards ceremony held last night.
Presented by the Restaurant Association of New Zealand and lead partners Lexis Comply Hub, the awards acknowledge the outstanding hospitality professionals, all of whom are making a positive impact on the local café and dining scene.
Ground breaking chef Monique Fiso known for pushing the boundaries of Māori cuisine, picks up three awards for her new restaurant Hiakai.
Fiso also wins in the outstanding chef category while Hiakai picks up the outstanding restaurant award. Recognition also goes to Elton Song in the emerging chef category.
Souls Shack Hot Chicken picked up the People’s Choice Award for their popular Nashville style friend chicken.
Great service did not go unrecognised with Jessica Wood of popular wine bar Noble Rot picking up the award for emerging front of house professional while Ortega Fish Shack and Bar picked up the award for outstanding front of house team.
Josh Pointed, also of Noble Rot collected the award for outstanding hospitality professional.
Great cafes are not lacking in the region with Prefab Eatery winning the award for outstanding café and Tait Burge of Swimsuit recognised as the region’s outstanding barista.
Those looking for a place to get a great drink also won’t be disappointed with the region’s top notch bars recognised.
Matt
Robers of Bristow Poquito bar takes out the award for outstanding bartender
while Crumpet Bar wins outstanding cocktail experience.
Outstanding new establishment went to Cuba St’s Highwater Eatery.
CEO Marisa Bidois says, “Wellington has a vibrant and world leading hospitality scene which deserves to be recognised. Our goal is to recognise those providing an exceptional experience to Wellingtonians and connect them to one another and the local dining community.”
The winners were announced at an awards ceremony held at the Embassy Theatre on Sunday 27th October 2019.
The Wellington Hospitality Awards Winners 2019
L’affare
Outstanding Barista:
Tait
Burge, Swimsuit
Chivas
Regal Outstanding Bartender:
Max
Roberts Bristow, Poquito Bar
Antipodes
Emerging Front of House:
Jessica
Wood, Noble Rot Wine Bar
Helping
Hands Outstanding Front of House Team:
Ortega
Fish Shack & Bar
Moet
Hennessy Outstanding Maitre d:
Sophie
Garnham, Monsoon Poon
Le
Cordon Bleu Emerging Chef:
Elton
Song, Hiakai
Gilmours
Outstanding Chef:
Monique
Fiso, Hiakai
Southern
Hospitality Outstanding Café:
Prefab
Eatery
Black
Dog Brewery Outstanding Beer Experience:
Fortune
Favours
Negociants
Outstanding Wine Experience:
Noble
Rot Wine Bar
Monin
NZ Outstanding Cocktail Experience:
Crumpet
Bar
Service
Foods Outstanding Casual Dining/Street Food Experience:
A
Taste of Home
OneMusic
Outstanding Ambience & Design:
Night
Flower
Nova
Energy Outstanding Suburban/Regional Experience:
Salty
Pidgin
BCE
Catering Equipment Outstanding New Establishment:
Highwater
Eatery
Champagne
Laurent-Perrier Outstanding Restaurant:
Hiakai
The
Recruitment Network Outstanding Caterer:
Ruth
Pretty Catering
Harbourside
Function Venue Outstanding Sales Rep:
Jamie
Andrew Lawton, Hop and Vine
Crombie
Lockwood Insurance Brokers Outstanding Supplier:
Moore
Wilson’s
Villa
Maria Outstanding Hospitality Professional:
Josh
Pointon, Noble Rot Wine Bar
Restaurant
Association of NZ Outstanding People’s Choice:
Soul
Shack Hot Chicken