The local accolades just keep on coming!
Following the news that a local Greek restaurant has been named the best Greek restaurant across Victoria and Tasmania, the Geelong region has been thrust into the spotlight again with a Bellarine Peninsula winery also receiving a highly-deserving crown.
Situated on a majestic Bellarine peak amidst rolling paddocks and coastal cliffs, Jack Rabbit Vineyard has won the Best Restaurant in a Winery category at the 2022 VIC & TAS Australia Restaurant & Catering Hostplus Awards for Excellence for the second time.
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General Manager Lyndsay Sharp said that having navigated the tumultuous hospitality landscape over the last couple of years, winning the award meant more than any other year to all at Jack Rabbit.
“Everyone is very excited! It means so much to the entire team on so many levels – the calibre of the other businesses in the running was high so it’s both humbling and gratifying to have received the award,” Ms Sharp said.
“There is so much pride and passion that goes into all things Jack Rabbit. Recognition such as this is very much positive reinforcement for our incredible team and array of wonderful local producers. Particular shout out to Executive Chef Dwayne Bourke and Head Chef Elijah Grubb – their culinary talent is energising and their ongoing commitment to showcasing local, sustainable food is nothing short of inspiring.”
With unrivalled panoramic views across the bay to Melbourne, the You Yangs, Geelong and beyond, Jack Rabbit Vineyard’s restaurant, winery and cellar door has become a must-visit destination on the Bellarine. Forging a reputation as a gastronomic showpiece for the Bellarine alongside a stable of sophisticated cool-climate wines, Jack Rabbit’s restaurant team have created a stunning, seasonal a la carte menu, featuring an abundance of local produce to indulge even the most discerning culinary whim.
It’s no surprise this destination has been named the best across Victoria and Tasmania, especially with the string of awards already to its name. The past few years has seen Jack Rabbit Vineyard land double gold in the 2019 Victorian Golden Plate Awards – both the state wide Golden Plate as well as the gong for Best Contemporary Restaurant Dining as well as been crowned ‘Best Restaurant in a Winery’ as well as ‘Best Tourism Restaurant’ (Victoria & Tasmania) in the prestigious Savour Australia Restaurant & Catering Awards in 2019.
More recently, Jack Rabbit landed multiple crowns at the 2021 Victorian Golden Plate Awards, taking out Best Contemporary Dining, Apprentice of the Year and Best Customer Service.
Alongside Jack Rabbit, more than 130 other local restaurants, cafes and catering businesses gathered to celebrate the achievements of their peers who were judged in over 45 categories, with the winners announced at the Awards for Excellence ceremony held at Zinc at Federation Square.
The Awards for Excellence is a nationally recognised, independently judged awards program that celebrates exceptional service and culinary talent across the state. The Awards for Excellence is the only program in Australia where the judging criteria is determined by consumers who rank what is important to them in the dining experience.
The Awards are judged by an independent team of trained judges who anonymously visit the venues to determine the restaurant/café winners. The scores are based on the entire dining experience from food to the customer service experienced when the judges anonymously dine. Caterers are assessed on all aspects of their catering business including operations, food, service, staffing and event/site outcomes to determine the catering category winners.
R&CA is the industry association representing tens of thousands of restaurant and catering businesses across Australia. To view the full list of category winners in the 2022 Australia Restaurant & Catering Hostplus Awards for Excellence, visit the R&CA website.
