The Cottage Scone takes home Bronze Award for Best National Steak Restaurant for second year running

The Cottage Scone has just been awarded Bronze for Best Steak Restaurant at Savour Australia’s National Awards For Excellence for the second year in a row. 

The annual awards, held at Luna Park in Sydney on Monday night, bring together some of the finest restaurants and catering businesses in Australia.

The gong comes after The Cottage received the top award for Best Regional Steak Restaurant at the state finals earlier in the year for the third consecutive year. 

Business owner and chef Colin Selwood said the team were over the moon and the recognition was particularly important at the moment given the effect the drought is having on the community and local businesses.

“It’s important recognition for us as well because it’s really tough at the moment for us with the drought – it’s tough for the whole town,” he said.

“This drought is affecting every business in town and it’s not just farmers that are suffering, because they’re suffering there is a follow on through into town with everything.

“It’s also important recognition for us because it’s judged by independent judges within the industry – they know what they’re talking about, they know what to eat and they come in without any knowledge by us at all.”

Mr Selwood said the awards were more about the venue than the meat, though they source high-quality grass-fed beef through supplier Wingham Beef Exports, which is then dry aged on site. 

The Cottage have recently added another supplier to the list, Alexander Downs at Merriwa, meaning they are sourcing locally farmed meat. 

“In doing that we often know whose meat we’ve got hanging in our meat room,” Mr Selwood said. 

“So, the first lot were Jimbo Munro’s beef from Merriwa.”

Mr Selwood said he hopes the community will continue to support local business, especially during the current seasonal conditions.

“Thanks to the community and our customers for supporting us, and people must continue to shop locally or we will lose more businesses through the hard time.”