Brisbane's Joy was awarded Best New Restaurant.Paul HarrisThe tiny 10-seat Fortitude Valley restaurant is run by husband-and-wife team Tim and Sarah Scott,who cook and serve Japanese-influenced food while also pouring guests'drinks and clearing plates.
Joy was only one of many new Brisbane restaurants to enter theGuide for the first time,with Arc Dining,Donna Chang,Golden Pig,Restaurant Dan Arnold,Greca,Honto and Little Valley all awarded one hat.
Western Australia was also well represented with new Guide entries. Receiving one hat for the first time were Arimia,Island Market Trigg,Le Rebelle,Madalena's,Manuka Woodfire Kitchen,Propeller and Young George.
Dan Hunter's Brae was named Vittoria Coffee Restaurant of the Year.Kristoffer PaulsenIn Sydney,Quay has maintained its position as Sydney's premier restaurant. The Opera House-facing fine diner,where a 10-course meal costs $295 before drinks,received three hats for the 18th consecutive year,a record-setting sequence that began soon after chef Peter Gilmore joined the Fink Group-owned establishment in 2001.
Lennox Hastie was named Citi Chef of the Year for setting new standards of cooking and originality at Surry Hills'Firedoor,the restaurant he owns and operates in partnership with Fink Group. There is no electricity or gas in Hastie's kitchen - even boiling a pot of water requires lighting a fire.
"Hastie's genius lies in gently teasing flavours with fire and his tight control over such a volatile element,"said Rigby.
Lennox Hastie of Firedoor was named Citi Chef of the Year 2020.Nikki ToThe awards were attended by more than 800 restaurant industry guests including Matt Moran,Kylie Kwong and recipient of the Vittoria Coffee Legend Award,Maggie Beer. The event was a double celebration,too,with 2019 marking the 40th anniversary of theGuide being published byThe Age.
At the ceremony,Rigby acknowledged how tough the year had been for the industry,noting how many high-profile restaurants had closed their doors.
But Rigby was also optimistic,saying"Australia is one of the greatest countries in the world when it comes to its restaurant offering,thanks to the grit and determination of our incredible industry. And that's reflected in the restaurants featured in the newest edition of theGuide."
Photo:SuppliedJoanna Smith from Igni won the Citi Service Award.Kristoffer PaulsenTheGood Food Guide's third annual national edition,featuring reviews of more than 500 restaurants across Australia,is on sale now in newsagencies and bookstores,and available atthestore.com.au/gfg20 for $29.99 with free shipping.