Hawke’s Bay Regional Signature Dish Winners announced

PRESS RELEASE - Hawke’s Bay Signature Dish Awards

Tuesday 23rd October 2012

Hawke’s Bay Regional Signature Dish Winners announced

Taste Cornucopia restaurant has triumphed in the formal category of the Hawke’s Bay Regional Signature Dish Competition this year. The Hastings restaurant won the judges’ taste buds with a dish described as “the flavour, balance and seasoning were some of the best I have seen and tasted, with the food on the plate completely out of a culinary master class, a great representation of Hawke’s Bay produce.”

The winner of the Casual Category was first time participant Pacifica Restaurant in Napier, with their offering of Asparagus Tortellini with a Parmesan crusted Quail Egg.

The winner of the café category this year was Bay Espresso – Karamu Road, the iconic café’s entry was Gingered Pork Blessed with Bay Espresso served with a delicious Homemade lemonade.

The winners were announced at an Awards ceremony in front of more than 200 people from the hospitality industry at the Hawke’s Bay Opera House on Tuesday night.

37 participating restaurants entered the Signature Dish competition in three categories, formal, casual and café and for the past six weeks they have been cooking up specially created regional signature dishes for the Hawke’s Bay public and visitors.

During the event there were over 7,000 regional signature dishes eaten with over 40,000 diners dining at participating restaurants. “Pleasingly there were a high percentage of locals dining during this time, it is great to see locals getting out and supporting this regional promotional event. One diner confirmed that he loves the event as it gives him a reason to try different restaurants and different dishes’ Food Hawke’s Bay General Manager Jane Libby said.

A mystery panel of local and out of town judges had the arduous task of tasting all of the dishes and deciding the winners.

“Once again the entries were of a very high standard with all of the finalists’ entries being very close and very difficult to differentiate, it is a tough job but our judges are equal to the challenge,” Libby said.

Judge and food editor of Dish magazine Claire Aldous, said she was delighted to have the chance to help with Signature Dish judging this year as she hadn’t been to the region for some time.

“The quality of ingredients used in the dishes was not only impeccable but when combined with the creativity of the respective chefs, they all produced meals that truly showcased the region – and New Zealand as a whole.

Ms Aldous said “overall, the standard of food and service I encountered over the 3 days makes Hawke’s Bay one of the leaders in the NZ food and hospitality industries”

Jane Libby said the 2012 event has built on the success of the last five years.

“It has been a delicious success, with all the participating restaurants really getting behind the event with innovative recipes using varied local produce and beverage matches for their diners. The finalists entries were all very close, for the first time ever we have had a tie for runner up in the casual category in the judges choice.”

“The event is now one which is on Hawke’s Bay foodies’ calendars so we hope the event will grow from year to year” Ms Libby said. “We have such a wide variety of fantastic food produced right here in Hawke’s Bay and it is so important that when people dine in our restaurants and cafés in the region that they are actually eating fresh, seasonal Hawke’s Bay food.”

1. Judges Choice

The finalists as judged by the panel of mystery judges, are:

The judge’s choice awards winners and runners up are

Judges Choice - Winner – Cafe – Bay Espresso, Karamu Road

Judges Choice - Runner Up – Café – The Tuki Kitchen

Judges Choice - Winner – Casual – Pacifica Restaurant

Judges Choice – Joint Runners Up – Casual – Black Barn Bistro & Mister D

Judges Choice - Winner – Formal – Taste Cornucopia

Judges Choice - Runner Up – Formal – Terroir at Craggy Range

2. The people’s choice awards were voted for by the dining public

People’s Choice – Dish – Cafe – The Tuki Kitchen

People’s Choice – Service – Café – Adam and Eva’s Café

People’s Choice – Dish – Casual – Jarks Café and Bar

People’s Choice – Service – Casual – Crab Farm Winery

People’s Choice – Dish – Formal – Terroir at Craggy Range

People’s Choice – Service – Formal – Mission Estate Winery Restaurant

ENDS

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