The Auckland hospitality industry acknowledged the outstanding abilities of their own with the announcement of the winners of the 15th annual Lewisham Awards.
This year’s event, held on Sunday 4th June, was a sell out, which is a tribute to the calibre of the finalists and highlights the high regard in which they are held.
The Lewisham Awards (named after Richard Lewisham, who was a pioneer of the Auckland hospitality scene) were established in 2002 with the main objective to encourage excellence in the city’s hospitality community. With this in mind, the best in the business are honoured by their peers once a year, as the industry comes together to celebrate their success.
This year’s awards introduced two new categories – “Outstanding Cafe “and “Outstanding Barista”, along with a notable “Outstanding Contribution” award.
Finalists and winners came from a mix of both new and well established businesses, highlighting this dynamic and ever changing industry and showing that Auckland hospitality remains in excellent heart.
Some categories, such as Outstanding Restaurateur and Outstanding Maitre d’, were once again tightly fought, showing the depth of talent that we have in Auckland in our food and beverage offerings.
These are the 2017 Lewisham Awards Winners:
- Crombie Lockwood Outstanding Waiter – Des Dillon, Soul Bar & Bistro
- Antipodes Outstanding Maitre d’ – Michelle Moore, The French Cafe
- Federal Merchants & Co Outstanding Bartender – Jeremy Nivern, Mea Culpa
- Restaurant Association of NZ Sales Representative – Emily Ujdur, Southern Hospitality
- Hospitality NZ Outstanding Supplier – Southern Hospitality
- EuroVintage Outstanding Wine List – Ponsonby Road Bistro
- Negociants Outstanding Wine Service Professional – Sonja Anich, MooChowChow
- Southern Hospitality Outstanding Local – Coco’s Cantina
- Fine Food NZ Outstanding Caterer – LittleWolf
- CLYTH MACLEOD Outstanding Street Food – The White Lady
- Hancock’s Wine, Spirit & Beer Merchants Outstanding Bar –Mea Culpa
- Meadow Fresh Outstanding Barista – Samuel Te Kani, Eighthirty
- Bidfood Outstanding Cafe – Takapuna Beach Cafe & Store
- Lewisham Foundation Outstanding Contribution – Lindsay Swannack, Prego
- Menumate Outstanding New Venue – Amano
- OneMusic Outstanding Establishment – Cafe Hanoi
- Moana New Zealand Emerging Talent – Jorja Grogan, Bricklane
- Gilmours Outstanding Chef – Michael Meredith, Merediths
- Pernod Ricard Outstanding Restaurateur – Krishna Botica, Cafe Hanoi, saan, Xuxu Dumpling Bar
- Moet Hennessy Outstanding Hospitality Personality – Ben Taylor, Revelry
More details on the Lewisham Awards can be found at www.lewishamawards.co.nz, or check out photos and videos on their facebook page here.