Food Drink

SA wins big at the national Easy Awards unveiling the best food and drink in Aus

Australia’s best food, drinks, eateries, and producers have been unveiled at the game changing Easy Awards with SA taking home a number of awards.

Image credit: Easy Awards

Australia’s best food, drinks, eateries, and producers have been unveiled at the game changing Easy Awards with SA taking home a number of awards.

Easy Awards brings together the Drink Easy and Eat Easy Awards to celebrate the food and beverage communities at the pinnacle of their craft.

In a virtual ceremony hosted by comedian and wine identity Merrick Watts, the Easy Awards revealed Australia’s Best Drink, Best Restaurant and Best Chef as well as significant Producer and Drink categories.

A number of SA restaurants and producers received impressive awards which showcase the amazing food and beverage to come from our state.

Henschke 2021 Peggy’s Hill Riesling won Australia’s Best Wine while The Uraidla Brewery Cosmic Labyrinth Strong Pale Ale won Australia’s Best Beer and Cider.

La Popular Taqueria won Best Dining while Kane Pollard of Sol Restaurant and The Topiary won Best Chef.

Kane Pollard said becoming a finalist was a dream and to win still hasn’t quite sunk in yet.

“The Eat Easy Awards stand for all that I love and live by every day: Sustainability, thinking a little left of centre, supporting local and staying passionate about all that you do,” he said.

 “It’s been an absolute highlight of my career/life so far, and I look forward to 2022 with new light and inspiration.”

The owners of La Popular Taqueria, Daniella Guevara Munoz and Kor-jent van Dijk, said they would like to thank Eat Easy and all people involved for the award.

“We particularly want to thank all the people that voted for us and to our lovely staff, muchas gracias! We hope to see you in Port Adelaide soon.”

Founded by hospo stars Tamrah Petruzzelli (Super Assembly), Duncan Welgemoed (Africola) and Mike Bennie (P+V), Drink Easy celebrates all streams of beverage creation and the culture that surrounds brewing, distilling, and fermenting

Meanwhile Eat Easy is a celebration of delicious and responsible food that rewards the restaurants, producers, and chefs making a difference with good food and responsible practice.

Judging for Drink Easy was held at the University of Adelaide’s Bonython Hall and featured an all-South Australian line-up of judges – due to Covid restrictions – and included Nick Ryan (The Australian), Steve Pannell (SC Pannell), Brendan Carter (Unico Zelo), Rose Kentish (Sparkke and Rose Kentish Wines), Charlotte Hardy (Charlotte Dalton), Nick Stock (GT Wine), Gareth Lewis (Beer & BBQ Festival) and Katie Spain (Good Food).

Drink Easy Winners

Top 10 Overall Drinks

1: Crittenden Wines // 2016 Cri De Coeur Savagnin (Vic)

2: Sullivan Cove Whisky // Single Malt Whisky French Oak ex-Tawny Second Fill Single Cask (Tas)

3: Ziggy’s Wild Foods // Native Lilly Pilly, Lemon Myrtle & Wild Lavender Shrub (NSW

4: Zero Proof Australia // Lyre’s Italian Orange (NSW)

5: In Praise of Shadows // 2020 Mankai Touriga Nacional, Graciano, Garnacha (SA)

6: Henschke // 2021 Peggy’s Hill Riesling (SA)

7: The Uraidla Brewery // Future Light Little Pale Ale (SA)

8: The Uraidla Brewery // Cosmic Labyrinth Strong Pale Ale (SA)

9: Thredbo Valley Distillery // Wildbrumby Baked Apple Liqueur Schnapps (NSW)

10: Heaps Normal // Quiet XPA (ACT)

Best Wine

Henschke 2021 Peggy’s Hill Riesling (SA)

Best Spirit

Archie Rose Single Malt Whisky (NSW)

Best Alternative Drink

The Everleigh Bottling Co Palomita Spritzed Cocktail (Vic)

Best Non-Alcoholic

Ziggy’s Wild Food Native Lilly Pilly, Lemon Myrtle & Wile Lavender Shrub (NSW)

Best Beer + Cider

The Uraidla Brewery Cosmic Labrynth Strong Pale Ale

Easy on the Eye Winner

Patrick of Coonawarra Methode Eucalypt Cabernet Sauvignon (SA) by Swear Words (Vic)

Eat Easy features a diverse panel of some of the most impressive food identities in the country including Mark Best (ex-Marque), Alyx Gorman (The Guardian), Jared Ingersoll (Canva), Daniel Motlop (Something Wild), John Lethlean (The Australian), Karena Armstrong (Salopian Inn) and Valerie Henbest (Smelly Cheese).

Eat Easy Winners

People’s Choice Winners

Best Chef (presented by Rare Medium)

Kane Pollard (Sol Restaurant and The Topiary) (SA)

Best Dining

La Popular Taqueria (SA)

Best Front-of-House

Ali Robertson, Sonny Hobart (Tas)

Eat Easy Producer Categories

Made

Schulz Organic Dairy Organic Full Cream Milk (Vic)

Grown

Moonblue Berries Moondarra Blueberries (Vic)

Bred

Honest Eggs Co Chicken Eggs (Vic)

Wild Harvested

Gazander Oysters Premium Pacific Oysters (SA)

Red Meat Producer (presented by Australian Good Meat)

Cherry Tree Organics Rib Eye (Vic)

Here you can find out more about the Eat Easy and Drink Easy.

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