Inaugural Hawke’s Bay Hospitality Award Winners

Embargoed Media release until 7pm on 28th July 2008

Winners Announced In The 2008 Inaugural Hawke’s Bay Hospitality Awards

After much anticipation and an incredible response to the voting process, the inaugural Hawke’s bay Hospitality Award winners for 2008 have been announced. The Hospitality Awards are FOR the industry BY the industry. Over the last two months industry workers, owners, chefs, waiters, bartenders, baristas suppliers and sales rep’s have nominated and then voted for who they think is the MOST OUTSTANDING in the 14 award categories.

Organisers Food Hawke’s Bay, who are a membership organisation for food businesses in the region, are delighted with the response to the event. General Manager, Jane Libby says “it has been tremendous to see how many people in the industry sent voting papers in, we have been overwhelmed with the support shown in the event’s first year.” Over 4,000 individual votes were counted from nearly 500 voting forms from over 120 establishments in the Hawke’s Bay.

Libby says “It is truly a great achievement to win an award where often your most critical opinion can come from, your peers in the industry. It makes it even more special knowing you are appreciated and recognised by one of your own”

The winners were announced in front of a sell out crowd of 250 industry workers at a glamorous awards ceremony at the Hawke’s Bay Opera House followed by an industry party, where guests partied the night away into the wee small hours.

Food Hawke’s Bay is committed to these awards and expects to stage them earlier in the year in 2009 to include the seasonal workers in the talent pool of nominations.

The winners of the 2008 Hawke’s Bay Hospitality Awards are:

• Solemate Safety Solutions Outstanding Chef
Terry Lowe, Black Barn Bistro

• EIT Hawke’s Bay Outstanding Maitre ‘D
Shane Pugh, Vidal Winery Restaurant

• HSI Outstanding Waitperson
Sacha Van den Berg, Vidal Winery Restaurant

• Hospitality Association Outstanding Bartender
Mat Judd, Terroir at Craggy Range

• Bay Espresso Outstanding Barista
Chris Jarvis, Bay Espresso

• Restaurant Association Outstanding Cafe
Clifton Bay Café

• Heineken Outstanding Pub/Bar
Rose & Shamrock Village Inn

• Grande Gourmet Outstanding Restaurant
Pacifica Restaurant

• Hawke’s Bay Today Outstanding Supplier
Star Foodservice Ltd

• The Village Press Outstanding Sales Rep
Robert Elliott, Star Foodservice Ltd

• Hancocks Outstanding Cocktail Maker
Jennifer Cho, Provedore

• Regal Marlborough Salmon Emerging Chef
Chelsea Solomon, Pacifica Restaurant

• Clearview Estate Best Ambience/style
Provedore

• Kim Crawford Wines Outstanding Hospitality Personality
Sue Cranswick, Esk Valley Estate

ENDS

© Scoop Media