There have been a lot of local awards across Restaurants and Bars recently, with South Australian talent being rightly recognised. But national awards are a whole other ball game and as our eastern states parochially beat their chest about their finest destinations, South Australia has set about quietly developing one of the most dynamic food and wine scenes in the country on our own terms.
So it’s no surprise to see three South Australian names mixing it amongst the list of finalists in the Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards.
In the Wine List of The Year category, going up against Bar Liberty of Melbourne and Restaurant Hubert in Sydney is Jock Zonfrillo’s Rundle St location Restaurant Blackwood. We recently noted that this team was seriously hitting their straps, and is no longer living in the shadow of the original STREET ADL, so it seems a timely reminder for locals to make this Rundle Street location a must visit.
In the Bar Of The Year, Bar Liberty of Melbourne and Smalls of Melbourne will have to contend with our very own heavyweights at Pink Moon Saloon. You can often become distracted by the design of this bar, when in fact you should be focussed upon just how good of an overall bar they really are. As we wait with bated breath for the crew to move into takeaway, a mid week visit is definitely on the cards because the weekends are always unimaginably packed!
And last, but by no means least the Queen of Africola, their wonderful Maitre D’ Nikki Friedli is also a finalist in the Maitre D’ Of The Year category, and the only lady amongst the top 3. The recent decision from the kitchen to shift their focus towards North African cuisine hasn’t slowed the East Terrace destination down one bit and with Nikki keeping a keen watch across the dining room, if you haven’t made the trip down to see the changes you have no excuse now.
Winners will be announced and celebrated in Sydney at opening of David Thompson’s Long Chim Restaurant on Wednesday, 17th August and will be attended by the who’s who in the food world in Australia. Here’s hoping to see our very best clean sweep their nominations!