At Te Papa, Wellington’s hospitality community celebrated the individuals and businesses at the top of their game with the announcement of the winners of the 2022 Felix Wellington Hospitality Awards.
Presented by the Restaurant Association of New Zealand, with the support of lead sponsor Gilmours and Visa Wellington On a Plate, the awards acknowledge the outstanding hospitality professionals and businesses who are making a positive impact on the local cafe, dining and drinking scene.
Ortega Fish Shack, loved by locals for its fine dining with a laidback, good-time vibe, picked up four awards including Supreme Establishment and Best Restaurant.
Ortega Fish Shack Maitre’d, Davey Macdonald was also recognised, winning the award for Outstanding Hospitality Professional. The accolade for Best Front of House Team also went to Ortega Fish Shack completing their suite of awards.
Winning a hat-trick of awards, Hawthorn Lounge took out Outstanding Cocktail Experience, Outstanding Bar, and Best Bartender for Meghan Webb. Their crew had just returned from Sydney Bar Week after travelling on a Felix Awards scholarship, won by bar owner Alex prior to Covid-19.
Newly opened Kisa was recognised for its beautiful dining room fit out, winning the Outstanding Ambience and Design Award this year.
Taylor Annals of Egmont St Eatery won the award for Outstanding Chef. Egmont St Eatery boasts edgy yet familiar dishes, butchering on site with a nose to tail philosophy and sourcing produce from local community gardens, fermenting and preserving with the aim of achieving zero waste.
The capital is known for its cafe culture and is not short of great places to grab a coffee and brunch. Customs Coffee Supreme won the award for Best Cafe as a coffee lovers haven, having sourced no less than nine international beans for the compact Te Aro cafe.
Honoured with the Supreme Individual Award for her legacy in the Wellington hospitality industry was Julie Clark. Clark is co-owner of three successful Wellington eateries, Loretta, Floriditas and Floriditas Bakery. She is passionate about the industry and remains hands-on in her businesses.
Festival Director of Visa Wellington On a Plate, Sarah Meikle paid tribute to Clark.
“Her influence on Wellington’s food scene established our modern brunch culture, which was at the time, revolutionary. We all know hospitality is a tough business, however with her passion and determination she has been creating not only one of the city's most beloved cafes and restaurants, but a legacy of renowned Wellington institutions adding to New Zealand's culinary capital."
As hospitality begins its recovery from several challenging years, the awards offer the opportunity to recognise the exceptional dining experiences on offer in the nation’s capital.
See the full list of winners below.
Wellington Hospitality Awards 2022 Winners:
L'affare Outstanding Barista
Tim Norris, Customs Coffee Supreme
Pernod Ricard Outstanding Bartender
Meghan Webb, Hawthorn Lounge
Antipodes Water Outstanding Front of House Team
Ortega Fish Shack & Bar
Mount Cook Alpine Salmon Emerging Chef
Jimmy Whitefield, Amok
Anchor Food Professionals Outstanding Chef
Taylor Annals, Egmont St Eatery
Southern Hospitality Outstanding Café
Customs
Bombay Sapphire Outstanding Bar
Hawthorn Lounge
Restaurant Association of NZ Outstanding Beer Experience
Parrot Dog
Negociants New Zealand Outstanding Wine Experience
Puffin
The National Distillery Outstanding Cocktail Experience
Hawthorn Lounge
OneMusic Outstanding Ambience & Design
Kisa
Nova Energy Outstanding Regional Establishment
Graze Wine Bar
Service Foods Outstanding Restaurant
Ortega Fish Shack
Te Papa Outstanding Sales Rep
Casey Belsham, Pernod Ricard
Restaurant Association Of NZ Outstanding Caterer
Food Envy
American Express Outstanding Supplier
Capitol Produce
Waitoa Beer Outstanding Hospitality Professional
Davey Macdonald, Ortega Fish Shack
Visa Wellington On a Plate Supreme Individual
Julie Clark
