Restaurant ‘Oscars’ set to resume in Melbourne
The longest running national restaurant awards, the annual Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards, are set to resume after a COVID enforced lay-off.
With the pandemic forcing the closure of the country’s best and brightest eateries, the awards dubbed the "Oscars of the Australian food and wine world", were cancelled for 2020.
However, this year, the awards are set to resume in all new location – Melbourne.
Gourmet Traveller editor Joanna Hunkin said the decision to move the awards away from Sydney was made to acknowledge the struggles of the hospitality industry in Victoria.
Melbourne has been the hardest hit city in terms of length of lockdowns, with many restaurants having to close their doors.
The event will be hosted by Andrew McConnell on 27 October at his venue Gimlet at Cavendish House.
"It's going to come as a morale boost," Ms Hunkin told AAP.
"It's very much a celebration of the industry. We're certainly not trying to sugar-coat the challenges of the past 18 months.
"This is about recovery, about celebrating resilience and also about looking into the future."
The awards have been running since 1981, with Melbourne's Attica, Sydney's Quay and Adelaide's Orana being some of the best recognised venues, winning top gong for restaurant of the year.
The awards not only include Best Restaurant, but also best wine bar, best new talent and restaurant personality of the year.
This year’s awards is expected to feature several newcomers.
"COVID has really changed the landscape," Ms Hunkin said.
"Some people have met that challenge stronger and better and smarter than ever; and some have been really hit hard and not weathered it as well."
Finalists will be announced ion 27 September, with winners to be crowned a month later.
Ms Hunkin believes the awards will help bring diners back to restaurants.
"They know if they make the list, it is going to ensure that they are getting those forward bookings, that they're running at capacity every night," she said.
Irit Jackson, 8th July 2021
