Are Media’s Gourmet Traveller today unveiled its annual shortlist of Australia’s leading hospitality talent and the country’s most exciting new culinary experiences, with seven sponsors, including presenting sponsor, fine dining waters S. Pellegrin, with support from Devil’s Corner Wines, Lexus, Lurpak, Mutti, PorkStar and Riedel.

The finalists in Australia’s longest-running restaurant awards hail from all six states across six categories: Best New Talent, Best New Restaurant, Best Destination Dining, Restaurant Personality of the Year, Wine Bar of the Year, and the return of the Readers’ Choice Icon Award.

The winners will be announced on Monday, 19 August at an exclusive ceremony at Sydney’s iconic waterfront restaurant Catalina, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this September.

Other awards presented on the evening will be the peer-voted Chef of the Year, Outstanding Contribution to Hospitality and the night’s top award, Restaurant of the Year.

The Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards are presented by S.Pellegrino, with support from Devil’s Corner Wines, Lexus, Lurpak, Mutti, PorkStar and Riedel.

Gourmet Traveller Editor Joanna Hunkin said the awards are more important than ever this year as the hospitality industry navigates a series of challenges.

“It’s important we continue to lift up the industry and take time to celebrate these milestones and achievements,” she said. “There is no question 2024 is proving a tough year for hospitality, with many restaurateurs forced to make difficult decisions. At the same time, there are still plenty of success stories and new experiences to discover; the awards are here to remind Australians of the exceptional dining on offer across the country and to celebrate the joy of dining out.”

The return of the Readers’ Choice Icon Award sees some of the country’s longest-standing institutions take centre stage, including Alla Wolf-Tasker’s Lake House in Daylesford, which will celebrate its 40th anniversary in September. It is nominated alongside Attica in Melbourne, Quay and Sean’s in Sydney, Rick Shore’s in Queensland, and Vasse Felix in Western Australia.

Ms Hunkin said: “Our Icon Award pays tribute to those institutions that have stood the test of time and keep our readers coming back again and again. They are names that are globally recognised, with reputations built on excellence and consistency – as judged by our readers.

“Together, these finalists represent an exciting and diverse line up of talent from across the country that reflects the deep creativity that exists within the Australian hospitality industry. A huge congratulations to all our finalists and the teams behind these restaurants.”

Details of all the finalists are in the August issue of Gourmet Traveller, on sale today. All the winners will be profiled in the September issue, on sale Monday, 26 August, which will also include the annual Restaurant Guide, featuring Australia’s top 95 restaurants.

 

And the finalists are…

Readers’ Choice Icon Award

Attica, Melbourne, Vic

Lake House, Daylesford, Vic

Quay, Sydney, NSW

Rick Shores, Burleigh Heads, Old

Sean’s, Sydney

Vasse Felix, Margaret River, WA

Best New Restaurant

Gibney, Perth, WA

LVN, Adelaide Hills, SA

Maria, Hobart, Tas

Kafeneion, Melbourne, Vic

King Clarence, Sydney, NSW

Pneuma, Brisbane, Qld

Best New Talent

Sofika Boulton, Sonny’s, WA

Jun Hwang, White Horse, NSW

Simon Ming, Ode, SA

Mischa Tropp, Toddy Shop, Vic

Pietro Segalini, Pilloni, Qld

Wine Bar of the Year

Bar Olo, Melbourne, Vic

Havilah, Launceston, Tas

Poly, Sydney, NSW

Otherness, Barossa Valley, SA

South West Wine Shop, Busselton, WA

11e Cave, Canberra, ACT

Best Destination Dining

Chauncy, Heathcote, Vic

Elementary by Soul Co, Mt Gambier, SA

EXP., Hunter Valley, NSW

Nunu, Palm Cove, Qld

Wills Domain, Margaret River, WA

Restaurant Personality of the Year

Sarah Baldwin, Joy, Qld

Lachlan Colwall and Sophie Pope, Omotenashi, Tas

Mel Hamilton, Temperance, SA

Dot Lee, Longshore, NSW

Tess Murray, Chauncy, Vic

Jae Woods, Le Rebelle, WA

 

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