A SCONE restaurant has received well earned recognition for their exceptional service and culinary excellence.
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The Cottage restaurant in Scone joined more than 700 restaurants, cafe and catering guests at a gala dinner held at The Star, Sydney, on Monday night to announce the winners of the 2019 NSW Savour Australia Restaurant & Catering HOSTPLUS Awards for Excellence.
The Cottage came away with a handful of gongs - three in total - including Best Regional Steak restaurant for the fourth consecutive year, the NSW Regional Consumer Vote, and, for the first time, the prestigious NSW Regional Restaurant of the Year, clinching the award from 2018 winner, Pokolbin restaurant, Circa 1876.
Business owner Colin Selwood said it was great recognition, given all the hard work the team puts in.
"Anyone that has run a small business in a regional area knows the challenges we face daily, but it's been especially tough the last 12 months with the drought," he said.
Mr Selwood said that regional restaurants are giving city restaurants a run for their money, despite the challenges.
"We are seeing more and more of Australia's top restaurateurs open in regional areas," he added.
The Awards for Excellence is a nationally recognised, independently judged awards program that celebrates exceptional service and culinary talent across the country.
It is also 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 winners. The scores are based on the entire dining experience from food to customer service.
The team at The Cottage had more exciting news, also announcing an extension to the business which will open soon.
"The Cottage Cafe" will be serving casual lunch from Monday to Wednesday and breakfast on the weekends, giving people in the Upper Hunter and visitors to the region more daytime dining options.
There are also a number of events currently in the planning stages including their annual Melbourne Cup lunch and other food and wine events.
The Cottage now eyes off a national gong, competing against the other state finals at the National Savour Australia Awards for Excellence in Brisbane on October 28.
Caitlin Reid
Caitlin Reid is a journalist at the Northern Daily Leader, focussing on a range of topics including Tamworth Regional Council, education, property and entertainment. To get in touch, email caitlin.reid@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Caitlin Reid is a journalist at the Northern Daily Leader, focussing on a range of topics including Tamworth Regional Council, education, property and entertainment. To get in touch, email caitlin.reid@austcommunitymedia.com.au
