The Mayor of Dunedin, Aaron Hawkins, has joined the region’s hospitality community to celebrate individuals and businesses at the top of their game with the announcement of the winners of the inaugural 2022 Otago Hospitality Awards.
Presented by the Restaurant Association of New Zealand with the support of lead sponsor Trents Wholesale, the awards acknowledge the outstanding hospitality professionals and businesses who are making a positive impact on the local café, dining and drinking scene.
Katrina Toovey was honoured with the Supreme Individual Award. Affectionately known as the matriarch of Dunedin hospitality, Katrina has owned 11 businesses in the region. Her restaurant No 7 Balmac was also a finalist for outstanding restaurant.
St Clair waterfront restaurant Tītī picked up the award for outstanding restaurant for its elegant dining venue, while Ayumi Satozaki of Jizo Japanese Restaurant took out the outstanding chef accolade.
Casual dining and take out has surged in popularity over the last few years and Octagon takeaway Comes First Diner took out the award for outstanding street food or takeout.
Coffee culture continues to flourish in the region with Chloe Bennett of No 7 Balmac picking up the award for outstanding barista while Side On was named best café.
Restaurant Association CEO Marisa Bidois says that as hospitality starts its recovery from several challenging years, it is encouraging to see long-established attractions joined by new and emerging venues.
“Whether you want to try local craft beers and spirits in a relaxed pub setting or sample fine dining with views of the rugged Otago coastal landscape, the region has you covered.
“The Restaurant Association is dedicated to supporting the hospitality industry, providing support to business owners and the future leaders of our industry. The awards give us an opportunity to promote the local hospitality community, bringing people together to recognise our achievements in what continues to be unpredictable times. It is more important than ever to connect and celebrate one another’s success.”
For more information regarding the awards please visit: https://hospitalityawards.co.nz/otago/
Otago Hospitality Awards 2022 Winners:
Trents Wholesale Supreme Individual
Katrina Toovey
Trents Wholesale Supreme Establishment
Woof!
Meadow Fresh Outstanding Barista
Chloe Bennett, No 7 Balmac
No. 8 Distillery Outstanding Bartender
Seb Coxon-Aristizabal, Woof!
Antipodes Outstanding Front of House Team
Woof!
Lumina Lamb Emerging Chef
Danny Howlett, Carey’s Bay Hotel
Anchor Food Professionals Outstanding Chef
Ayumi Satozaki, Jizo Japanese Restaurant
Menulog Outstanding Street Food/Casual Dining
Comes First Diner
Simply Squeezed Outstanding Café
Side On
Speights Outstanding Bar
Woof!
OneMusic Outstanding Ambience & Design
Woof!
Southern Hospitality Outstanding Regional Establishment
Arc Brewing Co.
Dine Dunedin Outstanding Restaurant
Tītī
Regent Theatre Outstanding Sales Rep
Keri Johnston, Bidfood Dunedin
Restaurant Association Outstanding Food & Beverage Producer
Havoc Farm Pork
Restaurant Association of NZ Outstanding Supplier
Bidfood Dunedin
