The hospitality community got together at Trustpower Baypark to celebrate the individuals and businesses at the top of their game with the announcement of the winners of the 2022 Bay Hospitality Awards.
Presented by the Restaurant Association of New Zealand with the support of lead sponsor Steve Bird Wines, the awards acknowledge the outstanding hospitality professionals and businesses, who are making a positive impact on the local café, dining and drinking scene.
Mount street food joint Roxie's Red-Hot Cantina & Taco Joint was voted the people’s favourite picking up the people’s choice award.
Roxie's Red-Hot Cantina & Taco Joint
Newcomer Solera, who exclusively showcases small NZ wine producers, took out three awards: outstanding restaurant, new establishment, and the outstanding chef award for Neil Sapitula.
Contemporary dining establishment Fife Lane, where guests can watch their dinner being cooked in a Mibrasa: a rare, closed barbeque oven invented in Spain, also picked up three awards for emerging chef for Rhys Mortimer, ambience and design and supreme establishment.
Those looking for outstanding service won’t be disappointed with Alpino who took out the award for outstanding restaurant and front of house team. Bringing year-round summer vibes and great tunes, Miss Gee’s took out the award for outstanding bar.
Peter Blakeway of Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology took out the supreme award.
Peter’s passion for the industry is matched only by his desire to inspire people into a long and successful career in hospitality. He is teaching the next generation of chefs to love the industry and teaching them how to use their transferable skill to lead them from the kitchen into other paths within the industry.
He is credited with changing the face of Tauranga CBD with the launch of his Deli on Devonport and Plenti Cook School back in 2004. He now consults with a variety of businesses across the BOP to help them succeed and achieve results to grow their businesses.
Restaurant Association CEO Marisa Bidois said that as hospitality starts its recovery from several challenging years, it is encouraging to see long-established attractions joined by new and emerging venues.
Peter Blakeway
“The Bay of Plenty is a popular destination for domestic tourists and a drawcard for our returning international visitors thanks to its incredible coastline and backed up by the outstanding experiences created by all the entrants in this year’s Awards.
“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.”
Bay Hospitality Awards Winners 2022
Anchor Outstanding Barista
Reid Woolsey, Little Guy Bagel And Brew
Pernod Ricard Outstanding Bartender
Eli Ormsby, Miss Gee's Bar & Eatery
The Pos People Outstanding Front of House Team
Alpino Mount Maunganui
Service Foods Outstanding Chef
Neil Sapitula, Solera Wine Bar
Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology Emerging Chef
Rhys Mortimer, Fife Lane
Springboard Emerging Front of House
Alpino
Menulog Outstanding Street Food/Takeout
Rice Rice Baby
Southern Hospitality Outstanding Bar
Miss Gee's Bar & Eatery
Mount Brewing Co. Outstanding New Establishment
Solera Wine Bar
Nova Energy Outstanding Regional Establishment
Flatwhite Waihi Beach
OneMusic Outstanding Ambience and Design
Fife Lane
Antipodes Water Outstanding Restaurant
Solera Wine Bar
Restaurant Association of NZ Outstanding Supplier
Bidfood Tauranga
Flavours of Plenty Outstanding Producer
Mount Brewing Co.
