The 2019 Appetite for Excellence winners were announced last night at an awards ceremony at Glass Brasserie, Hilton Sydney.
Bianca Johnston – Photo Supplied
Running for the 14th year, the national awards program continues to attract the best of Australia’s food industry each year, to celebrate and nurture young talent and the future of the hospitality industry.
The 2019 winners tell a strong story about the high quality of hospitality talent in Australia. All three winners across the categories are currently working in restaurants outside of major cities, and of the five winners and ones to watch, four are female.
The 2019 Appetite for Excellence winners are:
2019 Appetite for Excellence Young Chef
Winner: Bianca Johnston, Tom McHugo’s TAS
One to Watch: Anna Ugarte-Carral, Momofuku Seiobo NSW
2019 Appetite for Excellence Young Waiter
Winner: Olivia Evans, Fleet NSW
One to Watch: Sophie Gitterle, Quay Restaurant NSW
2019 Appetite for Excellence Young Restaurateur
Winner: Luke Piccolo, Limone Dining NSW
These winners will add to an already extremely highly regarded list of Australian hospitality talent who have come through the program over the years, including Josh Niland (Saint Peter), Thi Le (Anchovy), Jake Kellie (Burnt Ends), James Viles (Biota) and Adam D’Sylva (Coda and Tonka).
In addition to the chef, waiter and restaurateur categories, Appetite for Excellence and Perrier challenged Australia’s bartenders to create a modern Perrier Aperitivo cocktail using Perrier mineral water. This year’s competition was judged by two of Australia’s best bartenders: Luke Ashton, Diageo’s 2013 World Class Bartender of the Year and owner of This Must Be The Place and Jenna Hemsworth, Head Bartender at Restaurant Hubert, 2018 Australian Bartender of the Year and 2019 Australian Bacardi Legacy Champion.
The 2019 Perrier Aperitivo competition winner is Matty Opai from Icebergs Dining Room and Bar.
