Brae wins Australia’s top restaurant awards
The big industry news today is that Brae restaurant in the town of Birregurra south west of Melbourne has picked up the number one spot in the Australian Financial Review’s Australia’s top restaurant awards.
This is great news for chef Dan Hunter. Brae was named in the World's 50 Best list for 2017. And the award is timely with Hunter’s first book, Brae, launched this month.
Asked about the secrets of his success, Mr Hunter said it was about hospitality and putting in the work to create a unique dining experience package.
“There's an intent to reach a high level of hospitality, day to day," Mr Hunter told the Australian Financial Review. "It might sound corny, but hospitality for many of us is about creating those people-to-people relationships."
"It's the chooks roaming through the garden, the wood-fired oven, the luxury accommodation, the gentle charm of manager Simon Freeman on the floor, the sophistication of the dining experience and yet you look outside and see cows and sheep.
Last year’s winner Attica in Melbourne came in at number two, Ester named the top restaurant in New South Wales came in third, Sixpenny in New South Wales was number four, Sepia in New South was in fifth spot, Franklin named Tasmania’s top restaurant was sixth, Tipo 00 in Victoria was number 7, Embla in Victoria was in eighth spot, Automata in New South Wales came in ninth and in 10th spot, there was Restaurant Hubert from New South Wales, named the “top newcomer.”
The Qantas Top Service award went to Fleet in Brunswick Heads, NSW.
The awards, which had the full list of Australia’s top 100 restaurants, are important because they are peer voted.
This sees Australia's chefs and restaurateurs choosing their favourites. In other words, it’s an insider’s view of the industry.
Awards co-director Jill Dupleix said the third annual awards have earned a significant spot in the industry.
“This top 100 is important because everyone wants to eat where chefs eat – this list is all that passion and knowledge and respect, formalised," Ms Dupleix told the Australian Financial Review.
Fellow co-director and food critic Terry Durack said the awards were recognised overseas.
"The list is not just for Australians, but is increasingly seen by international travellers as a brilliant guide to dining throughout Australia," Mr Durack told the Australian Financial Review.
by Leon Gettler, June 20th 2017
