The 2018 Savour Australia Restaurant and Catering HOSTPLUS National Awards for Excellence was held in Sydney late last year to great acclaim.

Cafés, restaurants and catering businesses that had previously won awards in the respective categories at a state and territory level were formally recognised at the event.

Among the national award winners were:

• Café of the Year: The Tea Lounge – Hyatt Hotel Canberra – A Park Hyatt Hotel, Yarralmumla (ACT)

• Caterer of the Year: National Press Club of Australia, Barton (ACT)

• Restaurant of the Year – Tetsuya’s, Sydney (NSW)

• Chef of the Year – Dan Hunter, Brae (Vic)

Restaurant and Catering CEO Juliana Payne congratulated each of the National Award winners and Savour Australia thanked them for their participation in this year’s awards season.

“The National Awards for Excellence is indisputably one of the biggest highlights on the Association’s calendar and I’m delighted to acknowledge our winners and finalists across each of the different categories,” she said.

“Out of the 45,000 businesses across Australia’s café, restaurant and catering sector, the businesses recognised as part of our awards have consistently displayed the high standards of excellence, commitment and professionalism.

“As has been the case in previous years, the standard of entries received across all categories was exceptionally strong. All businesses recognised as part of the 2018 National Awards for Excellence have made stellar contributions to the culinary landscape, at both a state and national level.

“I’d like to thank and congratulate the business owners and their staff members who took the time to enter in this year’s awards and who have made this event a stand-out success.”