Across 13 categories, over 1200 nominations were received for this year’s Bay Hospitality Awards. Initiated by the Restaurant Association of NZ, the awards have been well received by the local hospitality industry and has gathered wide ranging support in the Bay of Plenty area including regions like Tauranga, Papamoa, Waihi Beach and Te Puke among others.
The evening is an opportunity to reward those hard working individuals and teams that contribute to the excellence of the Bay’s vibrant and diverse dining and entertainment scene whether it is a chef, barista, restaurant owner, café owner or front of house team and will enable them to enjoy a night sharing experiences and celebrating the successes of their peers.
“The awards are all about recognition from our own industry, we want to raise the profile of the regions local hospitality sector and highlight those that are doing well,” said Andrew Targett, president of Restaurant Association Bay of Plenty Branch.
Hosted by Masterchef NZ winners Karena and Kasey Bird, finalists will be honoured for their outstanding commitment to this exciting and vibrant industry at Mills Reef Winery and Restaurant late November. Final voting across the 13 categories is now open with voting available online for hospitality industry workers, owners, suppliers and sales reps to the industry. Finalists include Brooklyn Patio and Eatery, Flat White Café, Mount Brewing Co Chef Martin Allan, Good Things Kitchen, Nomad Food and Wine, and Tia’s Tacos.
Bay Hospitality Awards 2016 Finalists:
Pernod Ricard Outstanding Bar
- Brooklyn Patio & Eatery
- Vaudeville
- Mount Brewing Bar Co.
Meadow Fresh Outstanding Barista
- Hans – Folk Café
- Kim Shine – The Dry Dock Cafe
- Dan – Luca Café
Lion Co Outstanding Bartender
- Romain Saenger – Vaudeville
- Hamish Doyle – Astrolabe Brew Bar
- Katie Short – The Barrio Brothers
Calnar Business Systems Outstanding Café
- Columbus Café (Gate Pa)
- Flat White Cafe
- Love Rosies
Bidvest Tauranga Outstanding Chef
- Martin Allan – Mount Brewing Co.
- Mark (Zef) Peterson – Macau Bar & Kitchen Lounge
- Ian Harrison – Rye American Kitchen & Spirits
Menumate Point of Sale Outstanding Caterer
- Good Things Kitchen
- Devour Catering
- Handcrafted Food
Moana New Zealand Emerging Talent
- Madison Boyd – Fish Face Seafood & Wine Bar
- Yasmin Wilton – The Long Table Café
- Jessica Payne – The Pizza Library Co.
OneMusic Outstanding Design/Ambiance
- Nomad Food & Wine
- Macau Bar & Kitchen Lounge
- Flat White Cafe
Menumate Point of Sale Outstanding Front of House
- Flying Burrito Brothers
- Neighbourhood Beer Kitchen
- Brooklyn Patio & Eatery
Independant NZ Outstanding New Venue
- The Rising Tide
- Nomad Food & Wine
- Fish Face Seafood & Wine Bar
Gilmours Tauranga Outstanding Restaurant
- Harbourside Restaurant
- Macau Bar & Kitchen Lounge
- Post Bank Restaurant
Spark Business Outstanding Sales Representative
- Dan Shea – Mills Reef Winery
- Clint Lowrie – Gilmours Tauranga
- Joel Bartosh – Birds Wine
Bidvest NZ Outstanding Street Food
- Johney’s Dumpling House
- Tia’s Tacos
- Elizabeth Café and Larder
