THE restaurant trade’s night of nights was held last month to celebrate excellence within the industry and to recognise the importance restaurants play in the Western Australian tourism economy. Premier Geoff Gallop echoed this theme in his address to the 750 hospitality attendees of the annual gala evening at Burswood Resort’s Showroom.
Ball gowns and gorgeous glitter-entwined hair constructions were prevalent as the girls glammed up and joined the boys, wearing their black ties with pride, to cheer on the winners.
Restaurant owners brought family, staff and friends along in recognition of their support during the year. Peter Clements from C Restaurant had 30 of his crew attend, all of whom joined him on the stage in ecstatic fashion to accept their Fine and Occasion Dinning Gold Plate Award.
The evening had a construction theme, though based on historic events for the organiser of the awards, The Catering Institute, it served as a poignant metaphor for the coming years, as the hospitality industry tries to consolidate at this volatile time.
Premier Gallop, while congratulating finalists, said his government would be working with the hospitality and tourism industry to ensure its growth and vitality, which acted as a pacifier to those reeling from the Ansett collapse and its inevitable impact on the industry, as well as proposed workplace agreement changes.
And while the Ansett collapse and events in the US were on the minds of most in the room, they were put aside for a while as the celebrations began –and celebrate is what they did.
The major category winners were announced and produced no great surprises.
OVERALL WINNERS: Prix D’Honneur (category winners four years running): Windows Restaurant (Fine and Occasion Dining) and Maya Indian Restaurant (Unlicensed Asian Dining); Fine and Occasion Dining, C Restaurant; Hotel and Tavern Dining, Black Tom’s Bar & Grill; Licensed Dining, Jackson’s Restaurant; Unlicensed Dining, Bay Cottage; Mediterranean Dining, Campo De Fiori, Mediterranean Casual, Gucce Restaurant; Licensed Asian, Dusit Thai; Unlicensed Asian, Thai with Style; Café Dining, CBD Restaurant & Café; Ray Perry Family Dining, Jetty’s Restaurant; Seafood Dining, The Red Herring; Restaurant within a Winery, Leeuwin Estate; Most Improved, Frenchy’s Restaurant; Excellence in Health, Whitemans Abroad; Caterer’s Award,
