PERTH ‘sustainable’ eatery Greenhouse was the only local establishment to be recognised at this year’s Gourmet Traveller restaurant awards, with the restaurant’s head chef Matt Stone named best new talent.
Mr Stone was recognised for his commitment to the restaurant’s environmentally conscious and sustainable focus, including processing grains on site and using local produce.
“Matt Stone is no culinary boy wonder trying to prove himself with smoke and mirrors, but rather a supremely confident young chef trying to remind Perth of the simple joys of sublime ingredients treated with respect and a careful hand,” Gourmet Traveller’s profile of Mr Stone said.
Last year’s sommelier of the year award winner, Kjell Ove Almeland from Mount Lawley restaurant Jackson’s, this year passed the baton to Franck Moreau from Sydney restaurant Est.
While the awards recognise excellence within restaurants, Gourmet Traveller releases its Australian Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide on the same night as the awards.
Restaurant Amuse was this year again WA’s top ranking restaurant, placed at number 43 out of 100, two spots up from last year; and was the only WA restaurant to be awarded two stars.
Shenton Park’s Star Anise moved up 11 places to 49th position (last year 60) and was awarded one star out of a possible three.
Mount Hawthorn’s Divido made the list this year, placing at number 85, and was also awarded one star.
“Every restaurant listed in the guide should offer a winning dining experience; any that achieve a placement in the top 100 represent another order of excellence again,” Gourmet Traveller says.
Establishments on the eastern seaboard dominated the national awards, with the restaurant of the year award going to Victoria’s Cutler &Co, while Brisbane’s Ortiga was named new restaurant of the year.
Sydney’s Eau-de-Vie was named bar of the year, pipping WA’s Helvetica to the post as one of three nominees.
