The awards are out and 61 hats are on, so let's cut to the chase and see who's in and who's out.
It seems nothing changes in the top category with Esquire taking out the top Vittoria Coffee Restaurant of the Year award for the fourth year in a row making it one of Australia's most awarded venues.
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| Josue Lopez taking home the Citi Chef of the Year award and two hats for GOMA Restaurant |
GOMA Restaurant joined the two hats brigade with chef Josue Lopez taking home the Citi Chef of the Year award.
There was plenty of movement in the city and suburbs one hat category with 1889 Enoteca and The Catbird Seat Bistro, both at Woolloongabba moving in along with Deer Duck Bistro at Auchenflower, Montrachet at Paddington and Thomson's Reserve, Spring Hill.
I'm going to go out on a limb here and predict that Montrachet is heading for two stars next year.
Losing a hat were 85 Miskin Street, Toowong; Jellyfish, Brisbane; Reserve, Milton; Restaurant Two, Brisbane; Tartufo, Fortitude Valley; and Vintaged, Brisbane.
No surprises in the Regional two hats category, but lots of movement in the one hats with The Peak at Spicers Maryvale; A Touch of Salt, Townsville; Homage, Grandchester; Kyomi, Broadbeach; Moo Moo, Broadbeach; Ricky's Riverbar & Restaurant, Noosa Heads; Sails, Noosa Heads; Social Eating House, Broadbeach; Verasion, Toowoomba; and Verve, Broadbeach Waters all gaining entry.
Only two, Berardo's (closed) and Chill on Tedder at Main Beach lost hats.
So it seems if you want to try some of the newly hatted regional restaurants, head to Noosa, Broadbeach or, most surprisingly, Toowoomba!
Interestingly, the regions toppled Brisbane’s dominance with 32 versus 29 chef’s hats, showing the depth of talent across Queensland coming to the fore.
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| Philip Johnson of E'cco |
Congratulations to all the award winners including-
Phillip Johnson of E’cco Bistro, Brisbane, winner of the Vittoria Coffee Legend
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| Larry and Amanda Hinds and Natascha Mirosch |
People’s Choice Award to Indulge Café, Bundaberg run by the wonderful Larry and Amanda Hinds. This is a must stop place when you are visiting Bundaberg.
Young Chef of the Year winng Ollie Hansford, Gauge, Brisbane - put this restaurant on your list.
The Brisbane Times Queensland Good Food Guide 2016 is available from participating newsagents for $7.99 or online for $9.99 (including postage and handling).
Here's the full list of Hats
Metro – Brisbane & Suburbs
Three Hats
Esquire (Brisbane)
Esquire (Brisbane)
Two hats
ARIA (Brisbane), Esq, Brisbane, Urbane (Brisbane), GOMA Restaurant
ARIA (Brisbane), Esq, Brisbane, Urbane (Brisbane), GOMA Restaurant
One hat
Stokehouse (South Bank), Black Hide Steakhouse (Petrie Terrace), Cinco Bistro (Camp Hill), E’cco Bistro (Brisbane), The Euro (Brisbane), The Foraging Quail (New Farm), Gerard’s Bistro (Fortitude Valley), Il Centro (Brisbane), Malt Dining (Brisbane), Moda (Brisbane), Prive 249 (Brisbane), Public (Brisbane), Sake (Brisbane), 1889 Enoteca, Woolloongabba, The Catbird Seat Bistro ( Brisbane), Deer Duck Bistro ( Brisbane , Montrachet ( Brisbane), Thomson’s Reserve (Brisbane)
Stokehouse (South Bank), Black Hide Steakhouse (Petrie Terrace), Cinco Bistro (Camp Hill), E’cco Bistro (Brisbane), The Euro (Brisbane), The Foraging Quail (New Farm), Gerard’s Bistro (Fortitude Valley), Il Centro (Brisbane), Malt Dining (Brisbane), Moda (Brisbane), Prive 249 (Brisbane), Public (Brisbane), Sake (Brisbane), 1889 Enoteca, Woolloongabba, The Catbird Seat Bistro ( Brisbane), Deer Duck Bistro ( Brisbane , Montrachet ( Brisbane), Thomson’s Reserve (Brisbane)
Regional
Two hats
The Fish House (Burleigh Heads), The Long Apron (Montville), The Peak (Maryvale), The Tamarind (Maleny), Wasabi Restaurant & Bar (Noosa Sound)
The Fish House (Burleigh Heads), The Long Apron (Montville), The Peak (Maryvale), The Tamarind (Maleny), Wasabi Restaurant & Bar (Noosa Sound)
One hat
A Touch of Salt (Townsville), Allure on Currumbin (Currumbin), Harrison’s (Port Douglas), Homage (Grandchester), Kiyomi (Broadbeach), Moo Moo Gold Coast (Broadbeach), Nu Nu (Palm Cove) , Ricky’sRiverbar & Restaurant (Noosa Heads), room81 (Broadbeach) , Sails (Noosa Heads), Seaduction (Surfers Paradise), Social Eating House (Broadbeach), Tamarind (Cairns), Veraison (Toowoomba), Verve (Broadbeach Waters), Coast (Hervey Bay), Ristorante Fellini (Main Beach), RockSalt (Broadbeach), Salt Grill (Surfers Paradise), Spirit House (Yandina), Ten Japanese (Broadbeach), Vanitas (Main Beach).
A Touch of Salt (Townsville), Allure on Currumbin (Currumbin), Harrison’s (Port Douglas), Homage (Grandchester), Kiyomi (Broadbeach), Moo Moo Gold Coast (Broadbeach), Nu Nu (Palm Cove) , Ricky’sRiverbar & Restaurant (Noosa Heads), room81 (Broadbeach) , Sails (Noosa Heads), Seaduction (Surfers Paradise), Social Eating House (Broadbeach), Tamarind (Cairns), Veraison (Toowoomba), Verve (Broadbeach Waters), Coast (Hervey Bay), Ristorante Fellini (Main Beach), RockSalt (Broadbeach), Salt Grill (Surfers Paradise), Spirit House (Yandina), Ten Japanese (Broadbeach), Vanitas (Main Beach).
Congratulations to Dalton Hospitality for the catering on the night, a wonderful selection of freshly shucked oysters, cheese and charcuterie with hot food including tempura heritage carrots.
Photographs courtesy of Sarah Keayes Photography, smok.com.au
Disclaimer: Kerry Heaney was a reviewer for the Good Food Guide 2016