Highwater Eatery picks up best restaurant while Hiakai takes out People’s Choice
Wellington Industry recognises outstanding COVID innovation and resilience with awards for Kapura, Wellington on a plate and Jackie Lee Morrison
Our Wellington hospitality folk acknowledged the outstanding abilities of its own with the announcement of the winners at the Felix Wellington Hospitality Awards ceremony held on 1st November.
Presented by the Restaurant Association, along with our lead partner Lexis Comply Hub, the awards acknowledge our outstanding Wellington hospitality professionals, all of whom are making a positive impact on our local café, dining and drinking scene.
Cuba Street Restaurant Association member, Highwater Eatery, known for its approach to using local, sustainable and ethical produce, picked up the accolade for best restaurant in the region. Ground breaking chef Monique Fiso, picks up the People’s Choice award for Hiakai.
This year we introduced three new categories for outstanding community spirit, outstanding innovation and outstanding local hospo hero in recognition for the people and businesses that have stepped up and showed steely determination as we navigated our way through COVID-19.
Winning the award for outstanding community spirit is Kapura. Jamie Williams and the Kapura team transformed the business to produce frozen meals and packs. The team worked with The Ministry of Social Development to deliver over 200,000 meals and 35,000 grocery boxes to 9000 Wellingtonians in need, all at cost price. The Kapura team also started a lockdown legends website where members of the public could nominate someone in the community doing great work to receive a free main meal at any of the Kapura sites. Outstanding local hospo hero went to Jackie Lee Morrison who spearheaded a hospitality collective, the Pandemic Pack, to offer a combined delivery service during Levels 3 and 2 of the NZ COVID-19 alert system.
Outstanding Innovation went to At Yours by Visa Wellington On a Plate who created an online directory of food and beverage services offering contactless delivery, click and collect, and/or takeaway during Alert Level 3 of the Covid-19 lockdown. The site was put together in record time, designed to be up and running as soon as the country moved to Alert Level 3.
Shepherd Elliott was awarded the accolade of outstanding chef for his novel flavours and sophisticated techniques, which are showcased at Shepherd. Long running eatery, Olive, picks up the award for outstanding café for its seasonal French and Italian inspired menus in a rustic space. Davey McDonald, Ortega, picked up the award for outstanding maitre’d while Capitol restaurant took out the outstanding front of house team. Justin McKenzie of C G R Merchant & Co, Cuckoo Emporium and Hawthorn Lounge collected the award for outstanding hospitality professional.
Wellington has a vibrant and world leading hospitality scene which deserves to be recognised. Our goal is to recognise those providing an exceptional experience and connect them to one another and the local dining community. It has never been more important for diners to get out and try the fantastic array of local dining spots so we hope these awards inspire Wellingtonians to support our locals.
The winners of the 2020 Felix Wellington Hospitality Awards are
L’affare Outstanding Barista
Madison Veitch, Customs Coffee Supreme
Pernod Ricard Outstanding Bartender
Devan Nesbitt, Hawthorn Lounge
posBoss Outstanding Front of House Team
Capitol Restaurant
American Express Outstanding Maitre’d
Davey McDonald, Ortega Fish Shack & Bar
Southern Hospitality Emerging Chef
Taylor Annals, Egmont Street Eatery
Gilmours Outstanding Chef
Shepherd Elliot, Shepherd
Service Foods Outstanding Street Food/Casual Dining
Soul Shack Chicken
Meadow Fresh Outstanding Café
Olive
Restaurant Association of NZ Outstanding Beer Experience
Parrotdog Brewery
The Wine Writer Outstanding Wine & Beverage List
Noble Rot Wine Bar
Negociants Outstanding Wine Experience
Puffin Wine Bar
The National Distillery Company Outstanding Cocktail Experience
Crumpet
Coca Cola Amatil Outstanding Bar
Havana Bar
RIP Global Outstanding New Establishment
Mason
Nova Energy Outstanding Regional Establishment
The Botanist
OneMusic Outstanding Ambience & Design
Puffin Wine Bar
Eftpos NZ Outstanding Ethnic Cuisine
Viva Mexico
Red & White Cellar Outstanding Restaurant
Highwater Eatery
Te Papa Outstanding Sales Rep
Stefan Pearce, Parrotdog Brewery
V Pure Outstanding People’s Choice Establishment
Hiakai
Restaurant Association of NZ Outstanding Supplier
Shoots Microgreens
Moore Wilson’s Outstanding Caterer
Sarah Searancke Catering
Menulog Outstanding Hospitality Professional
Justin McKenzie, C G R Merchant & Co/Cuckoo Emporium/Hawthorn Lounge