Jacques Reymond was announced as the Lavazza Restaurant of the Year and Delaware North - Melbourne Zoo took out the Caterer of the Year at the 2008 Restaurant & Catering Victoria Awards for Excellence on Tuesday the 5th of August held at Peninsula, Atlantic South Wharf, Docklands.
Over 475 attendees were first treated to a unique performance by La Prima before MC Helen Razer kicked of the formalities. In her unique way she entertained the many restaurateurs and catering professionals while announcing this year’s Award Recipients.
A posthumous award went to Donleavy Fitzpatrick as the sixth Victorian Restaurant & Catering Australia Lifetime Achiever. His contribution to industry particularly his influence in changing the liquor licensing laws in the late 80’s and early 90’s had to be acknowledged. It is largely due to Don’s effort’s to push boundaries and force change, Victorians are able to sit on the street and enjoy a glass of wine/coffee and have the choice to eat or not. Don lost his battle with Brain Cancer in February 2008, so accepting on his behalf was family friend, Janet Galpin.
Melbourne Food & Wine Events Professional Development Award
Crown Limited Melbourne
Restaurant & Catering Australia Fine Wine Partners and Henschke Life Time Achievement Award
Awarded posthumously to Donleavy Fitzpatrick
Asian Restaurant
Winner: Koko - Melbourne
Finalist: Ocha Restaurant - Kew
Finalist: Red Spice Road - Melbourne
Finalist: Hanabishi - Melbourne
HostPlus Breakfast Restaurant
Winner: Richmond Hill Café e Larder - Richmond
Finalist: Ferguson Street Provisions - Williamstown
Finalist: Replete Providore - Hawthorn
Finalist: Provisions Food Store - Camberwell
Riviana Foods Café Restaurant
Winner: Café Vue - Melbourne
Finalist: Truly Scrumptious - Mentone
Finalist: Ludo Café - Melbourne
Finalist: Café Stradina - Glenroy
Café Restaurant - Regional
Winner: The Red Hill Brewery - Red Hill
Finalist: Ambrosia Café - Bar - Foodstore - Berwick
Finalist: Merricks General Store - Merricks
Finalist: Post Office Café - Office 3564 - Echuca
OAMPS Chinese Restaurant
Winner: Silks - Melbourne
Finalist: Flower Drum - Melbourne
Finalist: Chine on Paramount - Melbourne
Finalist: Yum Cha Dragon Chinese BBQ & Restaurant - Docklands
Coffee Shop
Winner: Convent Bakery - Abbotsford
Finalist: Book Talk - Richmond
Finalist: Coffee Club Knox Ozone - Knox City
Finlease European Restaurant
Winner: Bistro Vue - Melbourne
Finalist: MoVida - Melbourne
Finalist: Peridot Lake Estate Restaurant - Main Ridge
Finalist: the brasserie by Philippe Mouchel - Melbourne
Family Establishment
Winner: Maribyrnong Boathouse - Moonee Ponds
Finalist: Nosh @ Newport - Newport
Finalist: Sage at Parkhill - Berwick
Finalist: The Cosy Kangaroo - Bright
red + white Fine Dining Restaurant
Winner: Jacques Reymond - Windsor
Finalist: Circa, the Prince - St Kilda
Finalist: La Petanque - Main Ridge
Finalist: Vue de monde - Melbourne
Indian Restaurant
Winner: Bukhara - Warragul
Finalist: Cafe Saffron Indian Restaurant - Ivanhoe
Finalist: Bhoj Indian Restaurant - Docklands
Finalist: Gharana Indian & Pakistani Restaurant - Albert Park
Informal Dining Restaurant
Winner: Oyster Little Bourke - Melbourne
Finalist: Amello - St Kilda
Finalist: La Luna - Carlton North
Finalist: Punch Lane - Melbourne
Hospitality Training Australia Informal Dining Restaurant - Regional
Winner: Bamboo - Rye
Finalist: Gigi’s of Beechworth
Finalist: The Rocks - Mornington
Finalist: The Boyz for Brekkie - Mornington
Barilla Italian Restaurant
Winner: Tutto Bene - Southbank
Finalist: Agro Dolce - Forest Hill
Finalist: Centonove - Kew
Finalist: Gran Sasso Ristorante Italiano - Edithvale
American Express Modern Australian Restaurant
Winner: ezard - Melbourne
Finalist: Mercer’s Restaurant - Eltham
Finalist: Interlude - Fitzroy
Finalist: Wine House - Southbank
HostPlus Modern Australian - Regional
Winner: Oscar W’s Wharfside, RedGum Grill & DeckBar - Echuca
Finalist: The Long Table - Mornington
Finalist: Pettavel Winery & Restaurant - Waurn Ponds
Finalist: Astra Lodge - Falls Creek
Fine Food Australia New Restaurant
Winner: Maha Bar and Grill - Melbourne
Finalist: The French Corner Restaurant - Highett
Finalist: The Vines of Red Hill - Red Hill
Finalist: Nobu - Melbourne
Fonterra Pizza Restaurant
Winner: Ladro - Fitzroy
Finalist: Pizza Verde - Kyneton
Finalist: Bluestone Lounge Bar - Melbourne
PPCA Pub / Club / Tavern Restaurant
Winner: The Grand Hotel - Richmond
Finalist: Lamaro’s - South Melbourne
Finalist: Overflow Café & Wine Bar - Mount Waverley
Finalist: Vine Hotel - Collingwood
Westpac Restaurant in a Winery
Winner: Salix - Merricks North
Finalist: Montalto Vineyard & Olive Grove - Red Hill South
Finalist: Ten Minutes by Tractor - Main Ridge
Finalist: Max’s at Red Hill - Red Hill
Seafood Restaurant
Winner: Esposito at Toofey’s - Carlton
Finalist: Fisherman’s Pier - Geelong
Finalist: Live Bait - Docklands
Finalist: Fish Seafood Grill and Rotisserie - Waterfront City
Specialty Cuisine Restaurant
Winner: Verge - Melbourne
Finalist: S.Komatsu - Melbourne
Finalist: Nudel Bar - Melbourne
Finalist: Bluefire Churrascaria Grill & Bar - Docklands
Meat & Livestock Australia Steak Restaurant
Winner: The Point - Albert Park
Finalist: Steakhouse New Quay - Docklands
Finalist: Mediterraneo Charcoal Grill - Albert Park
Finalist: Parkers Steakhouse - Geelong
Thai Restaurant
Winner: Paladarr Thai Issan - Alphington
Finalist: Isthmus of Kra, Nonya Thai - South Melbourne
Finalist: Little Thai Princess - Glen Iris
Chef’s on the Run/CMD Tourism Restaurant
Winner: Lake House - Daylesford
Finalist: Chris’ at Beacons Point - Apollo Bay
Finalist: Gingerboy - Melbourne
Finalist: Stefano’s - Melbourne
VIP Personnel Corporate Caterer
Winner: Spotless at Delioitte- Melbourne
Finalist: Crave Catering - South Yarra
Finalist: Elizabeth Andrews Corporate Catering - Melbourne
Finalist: River house Catering - St Kilda South
Finalist: Zouki - Clayton
APRA Function Centre Caterer
Winner: Atlantic Group - Docklands
Finalist: Tasteful Occasions at Amstel - Cranbourne
Finalist: Sixteen Ellis Street - South Yarra
Finalist: Epicure Catering - Zinc at Federation Square - Melbourne
Finalist: Red Scooter - St Kilda East
Finalist: Crown Events - Million Dollar Lunch - Melbourne
Site / Industrial Caterer
Winner: Spotless - Geelong Grammar
Finalist: Contemporary Catering - Overton Lea Aged Care
Finalist: Zouki - Monash Medical Centre
Venue Caterer
Winner: Delaware North - Melbourne Zoo
Finalist: Delaware North - Melbourne & Olympic Parks
Finalist: Delaware North - Telstra Dome
Finalist: Epicure Catering - MCG
Modern Wedding Magazine Wedding Caterer
Winner: Delaware North - The Terrace
Finalist: Ed Dixon Food Design - Abbotsford
Finalist: Nathania Springs - Monbulk
Finalist: Contessa Receptions - Mount Waverley
Finalist: Ascot House - Ascot Vale
Hall of Fame Recipients
Silks - Melbourne - Chinese Restaurant
Tutto Bene - Southbank - Italian Restaurant
Ladro - Fitzroy - Pizza Restaurant
Paladdar Thai Issan - Thai Restaurant
Crown Limited Melbourne - Professional Development




