St Torpez Wins Corbans Wine And Food Challenge

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St Torpez Wins Corbans Wine And Food Challenge 2000

First time Corbans Wine and Food Challenge participant St Tropez Restaurant has won the Corbans Wine and Food Challenge.

A relative new-comer to the Auckland restaurant market (it opened last November), St Tropez Restaurant is very French - from its food to its fluent French speaking staff, chef/owner Jean-Christophe Varnier a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu.

Diners to St Tropez Restaurant over the Challenge enjoyed an entre of Pan-fried foie gras on duck sauce `aigre-doux' roasted cashew nut complemented by Corbans Winemakers Cuvee Riche 1997. As a main they could try Chargilled venison medallions, wild mushroom sauce, rosemary and garlic pommes sautees matched with Corbans Winemakers Private Bin Marlborough Pinot Noir 1999. Desert was Petit tambours au chocolat, frangelico angelaise, dark berry coulis partnered with Corbans Winemakers Cottage Block Hawkes Bay Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc/Merlot 1998.

Diners who missed the opportunity to try St Tropez's winning menu during the Challenge need not worry, it will continue to be offered to guests for the next month.

As well as the prestige that accompanies winning New Zealand's most regarded restaurant competition, St Tropez won a $20,000 prize package which includes $10,000 cash, wine and promotional support.

Corbans Wine and Food Challenge Winners were announced at brunch on Monday 11 September attended by almost 300 of Auckland's top restaurateurs and their staff.

Corbans Global Marketing Manager Martin Cahnbley said this year's Corbans Wine and Food Challenge had been the most successful yet. "Feedback from all the participating restaurants has indicated the number of diners was up and awareness of the Challenge among the public continued to grow".

Mr Cahnbley - who said he enjoyed 10 three course Challenge meals over the past month - promised the Corbans Wine and Food Challenge in 2001 would again reach new heights, providing an opportunity for restaurants to train staff about wine and food matching and give diners new taste and flavour sensations.

Auckland Results of the Corbans Wine and Food Challenge 2000

Best Entre Finalist Crostinis at the Hyatt Regency Auckland Finalist Sage Finalist St Tropez Restaurant Finalist Hammerheads Restaurant Finalist Shahi Caf Finalist Katsura at the Carlton Hotel Auckland Winner St Tropez Restaurant

Best Main Finalist Finz Finalist SBF at the Sherton Auckland Hotel and Towers Finalist Shahi Caf Finalist St Tropez Restaurant Finalist Partington's at the Sheraton Auckland Hotel and Towers Finalist Bowmans Winner SBF at the Sherton Auckland Hotel and Towers

Best Desert Finalist Iguacu Finalist Crostini's at the Hyatt Regency Auckland Finalist The Oval Restaurant & Bar Finalist Tamarind Finalist Totara Finalist Shahi Caf Winner The Oval Restaurant & Bar

Best Service Finalist Hammerheads Restaurant Finalist The French Cafe Finalist Sago Restaurant Caf Bar Finalist St Tropez Restaurant Finalist Totara Finalist Finz Finalist Tamarind Winner Sago Restaurant Caf Bar

Category Winner ($60 and under) Finalist Bowman Finalist Shahi Caf Finalist Crostini's at the Hyatt Regency Auckland Winner Crostini's at the Hyatt Regency Auckland

Category Winner ($75 and under) Finalist Sago Restaurant Caf Bar Finalist Hammerheads Restaurant Finalist SBF at the Sheraton Auckland Hotel and Towers Winner Hammerheads Restaurant

Category Winner ($85 and under) Finalist St Tropez Restaurant Finalist Partington's at the Sheraton Auckland Hotel and Towers Finalist The French Cafe Winner St Tropez Restaurant

Six Finalists (Six of the Best) Finalist Hammerheads Restaurant Finalist SBF at the Sheraton Auckland Hotel and Towers Finalist Sago Restaurant Caf Bar Finalist Partington's at the Sheraton Auckland Hotel and Towers Finalist St Tropez Restaurant Finalist Crostini's at the Hyatt Regency Auckland Winner St Tropez Restaurant

St Tropez Restaurant

149 Parnell Road

Phone 09 309 0996

Hours: Lunch Monday to Friday, dinner Monday to Saturday

Chef: Jean-Christophe Varnier

ENDS.

For further information - including photographs from the Awards

contact:

Nicola McConnell

Public Relations Manager

Corbans Wines

Phone 09 273 4859

Mobile 025 395 921

nicola.mcconnellcorbans.co.nz

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