The Canterbury hospitality industry acknowledged the outstanding talents of its own with the announcement of the winners of the 2021 Canterbury Hospitality Awards.
gin gin
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.
Smokey T's
Known for its live music, cocktails and good vibes, Regent Street bar gin gin picked up four awards for outstanding bar, best new establishment, as well as the ultimate accolade of supreme establishment of the year. Chef Jackson Mehlhopt picked up the award for best Emerging Chef.
Canterbury locals have once again shown their support for the ever-popular Smoky T’s who wins People’s Choice as well as Outstanding Street Food/Takeout. 5th Street picked up the award for outstanding restaurant while Finbar McArthy of Gatherings took out the outstanding chef award.
Those looking for a great coffee and cocktails need look no further than Fumihiko Takai of Espresso Studio, voted top barista and Cory Evans of The Last Word taking out best bartender.
Fumihiko Takai of Espresso Studio
“It’s been great to see Canterbury restaurants get back to connecting with their customers after this year’s delta outbreak. These winning establishments represent the best of the best in the region and the way they have been able to maintain these incredible standards in dining is testament to their resilience,” commented Restaurant Association CEO, Marisa Bidois.
“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 continue to be challenging times. It is more important than ever to connect and celebrate one another’s success.”
