Manawatu Hospitality Awards finalists

The Manawatu Hospitality Awards finalists have been named and past award winners are again to the fore.

Last year's top chef, Reuben Leung Wai, is among the contenders for chef and personality of the year, and his two restaurants Rendezvous and Bethany's are also finalists.

Bethany's was named after his daughter Bethany, who died of cancer.

The top restaurant in 2009, Nero Cafe and Bar, is a finalist again this year, as is 2008 winner Bella's Cafe.

Elm Cafe, winner of the cafe category in 2008 and 2009, is again a finalist. Its rivals will include Barista, fresh from success at Cafe magazine's Best Cafe Awards.

Manawatu's finest chefs, baristas and food establishments will be announced at the end of October. The awards are determined by voting within the hospitality industry.

Finalists in categoriesToops Restaurant of the Year: Aberdeen Steakhouse and Bar, Bella's Cafe, Rendezvous Restaurant and Bar, Dejeuner Restaurant, Bethany's Restaurant and Cafe, Nero Cafe and Bar, Zoe's at the Kingsgate, La Patio at Hotel Coachman.

Bidvest Ethnic Chef of the Year: Angkor Restaurant, Hana Mizu Ki Japanese Restaurant, Ken's Kitchen, Thai Orchid Restaurant, Yatai Japanese Isakaya Restaurant, Bangkok Thai Restaurant, Thai House Restaurant, Thai House Restaurant, China Town Chinese Restaurant.

Davis Trading Cafe of the Year: Cafe Cuba, The Elm Cafe, Cafe Express, Moxies Cafe, Barista, 7-4 Churchyard Cafe, Graeme's in The Plaza, The Stage Door Cafe.

Crombie Lockwood Caterer of the Year: Not Now James Catering, The Verdict Cafe, Cafe Express, 7-4 Churchyard Cafe, Hester Guy Catering, Wharerata Function Centre, Kingsgate Hotel, Creative Catering.

M&P Young Takeaway of the Year: Annie's Takeaways, Spice Kitchen, Fishtown Takeaways, Fish King (Feilding), Burger Fuel, Double8Nine on Main, Pompeii Pizza, Star of India Authentic Takeaway.

DB Breweries Pub/Tavern of the Year: Celtic Inn, The Speight's Ale House, Rose and Crown Olde English Pub, The Drovers Return Bar and Cafe (Feilding), The Grand Beer Cafe, The Brewers Apprentice, Rosie O'Grady's, The Beer Barrel.

Lion Breweries Bar/Nightclub of the Year: Highflyers Bar, The Grand Beer Cafe, Mao Bar, The Empire Establishment, The Fish Cocktail and Wine Bar, The Brewers Apprentice, Malbas Bar and Nightclub, Wally Warner Bar and Bistro.

Manawatu Standard Supplier of the Year: Village Wine Trader, MP Young, Bidvest Food Service, Tootill Electrical, Eftpos Central, Davis Trading, Toops, Riverlea Hydroponics.

Tootill Electrical Accommodation Provider of the Year: Rose City Motel, Alpha Motor Lodge, Kingsgate Hotel, Hotel Coachman, Travelodge, BK Motor Lodge, Arena Lodge, Fitzherbert Regency.

NZ Restaurant Association Hospitality Personality of the Year: Chetan Pangam (Kingsgate), Fay McSweeney (Davis Trading), Sharon Mann (UCOL – posthumously), Stephen Bragg (Roma), Reuben Leung Wai (Bethany's), Sean Kereama (Wharerata Function Centre), Alastair Pearson (Bella's), Danny Yeung (China Inn).

Shore Mariner Chef of the Year: Mark Harman (La Patio), IJ Freeman (Aberdeen), Karl Austin (Bella's), Scott Kennedy (Nero), Chetan Pangam (Zoe's), Reuben Leung Wai (Bethany's and Rendezvous).

HANZ Insurance Barista of the Year: Jenna Learmonth (Cafe Cuba), Rosalyn Musrurua (Mojo/Coachman), Chris Monk (Cafe Cuba), Stewart Fata (Cafe Express), Anna Coogan (Santrap Cafe), Andrew Feldon (Streetwise Coffee).

Southern Hospitality Ethnic Chef of the Year: Amit Kumar (Spice Kitchen), Patrick Hotiu (Hana Mizu Ki), Bob Fong (Red Lantern), Hira Singh Rana (Star of India), Yu Zhao Cai (Chinatown), Takayuki Moriyama (Flavour).

UCOL Commis Chef of the Year: Lance Nepia (Bella's), Leigha Tasker (Coachman), Jacob Gates (Cafe Express), Chris Blakebrough (Kingsgate), Jesse Bird (Aberdeen), Michael Brill (Rendezvous).

HSI Maitre d' of the Year: Kate Mandry-Gulliford (Aberdeen), Yvette Kennedy (Nero), Alastair Pearson (Bella's), Deborah Waghorn (Moxies), Natalie Hickland (Hotel Coachman), Agnes Lau (Dejeuner).

Eftpos Central Food Service Person of the Year: Tessa Raynor (Lone Star Cafe and Bar), Hayden Temperley (Bella's), Melissa Rousseau (Brewers Apprentice), Anya Parker (Moxies), Graeme Meyers (Graeme's), Melissa Brittan (Hotel Coachman).

Woodstock Bartender of the Year: Cameron MacDonald (Brewers Apprentice), Maxine McKeage (The Grand Beer Cafe), Jacqui Haitana (Celtic Inn), Susan Warner (Wally's Bar), Karl Allen (Rose and Crown), Joe Seah (Mao Bar).

- © Fairfax NZ News