Two new categories in the 2017 Lewisham Awards – “Outstanding Cafe”and “Outstanding Barista”, along with a notable service award for outstanding contribution, made the 15th annual acknowledgement of excellence in the Auckland hospitality scene a special occasion at The Langham Hotel on June 4.
Lindsay Swannack of Prego received the Lewisham foundation Outstanding Contribution award, while Samuel Te Kani of Eighthirty won the Meadow Fresh Outstanding Barista, and the Takapuna Beach Cafe & Store continued its success with the BidFood Outstanding Cafe Award.
This year’s event was a sell out, which the organisers say “is a tribute to the calibre of the finalists and highlights the high regard in which they are held.”
The Lewisham Awards (named after Richard Lewisham, who was a pioneer of the Auckland hospitality scene) were established in 2002 with the main objective to encourage excellence in the city’s hospitality community. With this in mind, the best in the business are honoured by their peers once a year, as the industry comes together to celebrate their success.
“Finalists and winners came from a mix of both new and well established businesses, highlighting this dynamic and ever changing industry and showing that Auckland hospitality remains in excellent heart.”
Some categories, such as Outstanding Restaurateur and Outstanding Maitre d’, were once again tightly fought, showing the depth of talent that we have in Auckland in our food and beverage offerings.
Emily Ujdur
2017 Lewisham Awards Winners:
- Crombie Lockwood Outstanding Waiter – Des Dillon, Soul Bar & Bistro
- Antipodes Outstanding Maitre d’ – Michelle Moore, The French Cafe
- Federal Merchants & Co Outstanding Bartender – Jeremy Nivern, Mea Culpa
- Restaurant Association of NZ Sales Representative – Emily Ujdur, Southern Hospitality
- Hospitality NZ Outstanding Supplier – Southern Hospitality
- EuroVintage Outstanding Wine List – Ponsonby Road Bistro
- Negociants Outstanding Wine Service Professional – Sonja Anich, MooChowChow
- Southern Hospitality Outstanding Local – Coco’s Cantina
- Fine Food NZ Outstanding Caterer – LittleWolf
- CLYTH MACLEOD Outstanding Street Food – The White Lady
- Hancock’s Wine, Spirit & Beer Merchants Outstanding Bar –Mea Culpa
- Meadow Fresh Outstanding Barista – Samuel Te Kani, Eighthirty
- Bidfood Outstanding Cafe – Takapuna Beach Cafe & Store
- Lewisham Foundation Outstanding Contribution – Lindsay Swannack, Prego
- Menumate Outstanding New Venue – Amano
- OneMusic Outstanding Establishment – Cafe Hanoi
- Moana New Zealand Emerging Talent – Jorja Grogan, Bricklane
- Gilmours Outstanding Chef – Michael Meredith, Merediths
- Pernod Ricard Outstanding Restaurateur – Krishna Botica, Cafe Hanoi, saan, Xuxu Dumpling Bar
- Moet Hennessy Outstanding Hospitality Personality – Ben Taylor, Revelry
More details on the Lewisham Awards can be found at www.lewishamawards.co.nz.
