RICARDO’S Cafe at Jamison Plaza has been named the winner in the Best Breakfast and Best Patisserie categories at the 2016 ACT Savour Australia Restaurant & Catering Hostplus Awards for Excellence.  

Owner Ricardo De Marco says: “With new cafes and restaurants opening everywhere on a a weekly basis, it’s an honour to know we are still at the top winning awards.

“It’s a seven-day-a-week event and staff are our number one asset; they work around the clock. Every day we are working on new and exciting creations to stay on top and take things to another level.”

The awards are judged by an independent team of trained judges who anonymously visit the venues to determine the winners. The scores are based on the entire dining experience from food to the customer service experienced when the judges anonymously dine.

“Ricardo’s cafe should be proud of their achievements. Running a hospitality business isn’t easy – there’s a lot of blood sweat and tears that goes into to making it work. But when you get the right mix of staff, produce and service, the results can be extraordinary,” says R&CA CEO John Hart.

Ricardo’s cafe will compete with other region finalists at the National Savour Australia Restaurant & Catering Hostplus Awards for Excellence in Sydney on October 24.

R&CA is the industry association representing thousands of restaurant and catering businesses across Australia. To view the full list of category winners in the 2016 Savour Australia Restaurant & Catering Hostplus Awards for Excellence, visit the R&CA website at www.restaurantcater.asn.au.

BUVETTE Bistro and Wine Bar at the Hotel Realm, Barton has won the New Restaurant category. 

Hotel Realm general manager Joel Gordon, says: “We are thrilled to be acknowledged in the prestigious R&CA’s Awards for Excellence and I am very proud of our highly dedicated and hard-working team. Congratulations and a big thank you to our kitchen and front-of-house staff for their passion in striving for excellence.”

Here is the full list of ACT winners: 

RESTAURANT AWARDS

ASIAN RESTAURANT
WINNER – Wild Duck, KINGSTON FORESHORE
BAKERY / PATISSERIE
HONOURABLE MENTION – Ricardo’s Café, MACQUARIE
BREAKFAST RESTAURANT
WINNER – Ricardo’s Café, MACQUARIE
BURGER BAR
HONOURABLE MENTION – Brodburger, KINGSTON
CAFÉ RESTAURANT
WINNER – Bookplate, PARKES
CONTEMPORARY AUSTRALIAN RESTAURANT
WINNER – Sage Restaurant, BRADDON
EUROPEAN RESTAURANT
WINNER – Black Fire Restaurant, BRADDON
INDIAN / SUB-CONTINENT RESTAURANT
WINNER – Blu Ginger, CIVIC
ITALIAN RESTAURANT
WINNER – La Cantina, NARRABUNDAH
NEW RESTAURANT
WINNER – Buvette Bistro & Wine Bar – Hotel Realm, BARTON
PEOPLE, PRODUCE, PLACE TOURISM RESTAURANT
HONOURABLE MENTION – Bookplate Café – National Library of Australia, PARKES
RESTAURANT IN A CLUB/HOTEL
WINNER – Column Restaurant – National Press Club of Australia, BARTON
SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
HONOURABLE MENTION – C Seafood & Oyster Bar, KINGSTON
SMALL BAR

HONOURABLE MENTION – Joe’s Bar at East Hotel, KINGSTON
SPECIALTY RESTAURANT
HONOURABLE MENTION – Harem Turkish Restaurant, KINGSTON
STEAK RESTAURANT
WINNER – Marble & Grain, BRADDON

CATERING AWARDS

CORPORATE CATERER
WINNER – Broadbean Catering, ACTON
EVENTS CATERER
WINNER – Hyatt Hotel Canberra, YARRALUMLA
FUNCTION / CONVENTION CENTRE CATERER
WINNER – QT Canberra, CANBERRA
NEW CATERER
HONOURABLE MENTION – Wild Duck Function Centre, KINGSTON FORESHORE
SITE & INDUSTRIAL CATERER
WINNER – Trippas White Group – Canberra Grammar School, RED HILL
SMALL CATERER
HONOURABLE MENTION – Bookplate Event Caterer, PARKES
VENUE CATERER
WINNER – Trippas White Group – National Portrait Gallery, PARKES
WEDDING CATERER
WINNER – Hyatt Hotel Canberra, YARRALUMLA

HOSPITALITY AWARDS

PRODUCT SUPPLY
WINNER – Snedden, Hall & Gallop Lawyers

MAJOR AWARDS

CONSUMER VOTE AWARD
WINNER – Tu Do, O’CONNOR
LIFETIME ACHIEVER
WINNER – Ben Willis
CATERER OF THE YEAR
WINNER – QT Canberra, CANBERRA
CAFÉ OF THE YEAR
WINNER – Bookplate, PARKES
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
WINNER – Black Fire Restaurant, BRADDON