The Bay hospitality industry acknowledged the outstanding abilities of their own with the announcement of the winners at a glittering gala dinner held at Mills Reef Winery on Sunday night.
The Awards recognise the outstanding hospitality professionals all making a positive impact on the local café and dining scene. The Restaurant Association of NZ are proud to organise and foster these awards with the main purpose being to unite, grow and promote Bay of Plenty’s vibrant hospitality industry.
Marisa Bidois, CEO Restaurant Association of NZ says “At the Restaurant Association we think it’s important to celebrate one another in the hospitality industry. Our work is physical and demanding and there limited opportunities to come together to support each other. The Bay Hospitality Awards represent the occasion to do just that – celebrate the hard work and success of the hospitality industry within the Bay of Plenty region. Congratulations to all the winners.”
With all categories keenly contested, this year’s winners truly exemplify what it means to be at the top of their respective categories. Kate McKeller White of Fish Face Seafood & Wine Bar took top honours winning the Outstanding Chef award, with Hide – Thirst & Hunger picking up the Outstanding New Venue and Outstanding Design & Ambience awards. The General won in the Outstanding Cafe category, with The Rising Tide picking up the Outstanding Bar honour, and in-house popular local street-food vendors Johney’s Dumpling House named Outstanding Street Food/Takeout for a second year in a row.
The Barrio Brothers in Tauranga were awarded the Outstanding Front of House Team honour and the coveted People’s Choice Award, and Macau proved they have all the ingredients to be named Outstanding Restaurant.
The Bay Hospitality Awards were established in 2016 to celebrate the Bay of Plenty region’s culinary talent, great venues and passionate people and will be back in 2019.
2017 Bay Hospitality Award Winners:
Innocent Packaging Outstanding Barista
Kalee Haakma, Thy Neighbour Coffee Bar
UNO. Magazine Outstanding Café
The General
Lion Co Outstanding Bartender
Katie Short,
The Barrio Brothers Mount Maunganui
Pernod Ricard Outstanding Bar
The Rising Tide
Moana NZ Emerging Talent – Front of House
Lisa Rooney, The Rising Tide
Independent Liquor Outstanding Design & Ambience
Hide, Thirst & Hunger
Menumate Point of Sale Outstanding Front of House Team
The Barrio Brothers, Tauranga
Gilmours Tauranga Outstanding Street Food/Takeout
Johney’s Dumpling House
Restaurant Association of NZ Outstanding Sales Representative
Robbie Moore, Bidfood Tauranga
Bidfood Tauranga Outstanding Caterer
Handcrafted Food
Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology Emerging Talent – Kitchen
Tom Greene, Octopus’s Garden
Bidfood Outstanding Chef
Kate McKeller White, Fish Face Seafood & Wine Bar
Federal Merchants & Co Outstanding New Venue
Hide – Thirst & Hunger
Gilmours Tauranga Outstanding Restaurant
Macau Bar Kitchen & Lounge
Mills Reef Winery People’s Choice Award
The Barrio Brothers, Tauranga
For more information regarding the awards please visit www.bayhospitalityawards.co.nz.