Congratulations to the winners of the 2009 Hawke’s Bay Hospitality Awards 2009 announced in May:

• The Village Press Outstanding Chef Jeremy Rameka - Pacifica Restaurant
• Eftpos Specialists Front of House Personality Shane Pugh - Vidal Winery Restaurant
• HSI Outstanding Waitperson Sarah Watson - Deliciosa Tapas & Wine Bar
• Hospitality Association Outstanding Bartender Simon Kerr - Provedore
• Bay Espresso Outstanding Barista Ben Simcox - Groove Kitchen Espresso
• Restaurant Association Outstanding Cafe - Cafe Ujazi
• Tui Outstanding Traditional Pub - Rose & Shamrock Village Inn
• Grande Gourmet Outstanding Restaurant - Black Barn Bistro
• Paritua Vineyards Outstanding Supplier/Artisan Producer – Vetro Mediterranean Foods 2
• Food Hawke’s Bay Outstanding Sales Rep John McHardy – Grande Gourmet
• Hancocks Outstanding Bar – Provedore
• Regal Marlborough Salmon Emerging Chef Sam Davies – Black Barn Bistro
• Clearview Estate Best Ambience/style – Mission Restaurant
• Kim Crawford Wines Outstanding Hospitality Personality Sam Orton – Orton Catering

In a coup for the New Zealand exhibition industry, North Port Events will launch Fine Food Show, Australia’s leading event for the food, drink and equipment sector, in Auckland in June 2010.

Founder and organiser of hugely popular consumer exhibition, The Food Show, North Port Events has partnered with Diversified Exhibitions, the organiser of Fine Food Australia, to bring Fine Food New Zealand to the local market. 

Planned as a biennial event, Fine Food New Zealand intends to unite and revitalise the New Zealand food service industry, and contribute to its ongoing development by encouraging the development of national and global connections and networks. 

“Fine Food New Zealand will be more sophisticated and more international than current events servicing the food industry, while also providing an important and professional platform to showcase and appreciate our home-grown, premier wares,” said Dona White, CEO, North Port Events.

Fine Food New Zealand will bring together distributors and buyers from food, drink and equipment companies in New Zealand, Australia and around the world. The event will give exhibitors the opportunity to interact with thousands of retail and foodservice buyers on a face-to-face basis. Buyers will be able to discover new food and beverage products, see state-of-the-art equipment, gain inisght on international trends and learn new skills and techniques in a highly dynamic environment. 

Fine Food Show New Zealand will take place 13-15 June 2010 at the ASB Showgrounds in Auckland. For further information and show updates visit Fine Food New Zealand website.