Hospitality awards won

WAREICK SMITH/Manawatu Standard

TOP COOK: Chetham Pengam was named Chef of the year last night.

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The best of the region's hospitality industry were decided at the Manawatu Hospitality Awards in Palmerston North last night.

Hundreds of people attended an awards ceremony at the Regent on Broadway, with gongs being handed out in 17 categories.

Big winners included Bella's (Restaurant of the Year), The Brewer's Apprentice (Pub/Tavern of the Year), and The Fish Cocktail & Wine Bar (Bar/Nightclub of the Year).

Chetan Pangam (Kingsgate) was named Chef of the Year, Andrew Feldon (Streetwise Coffee) was Barista of the Year, and Danny Yeung (China Inn) was voted Hospitality Personality of the Year.

Awards were handed out in business and individual categories. The winners in the business categories were chosen by their peers in the hospitality industry, while those in the individual categories were chosen by a panel of judges of both national and local people who are experts in their fields.

Organising committee chairman James Pettengill said the region's hospitality industry was thriving and the awards were a way of recognising and celebrating the abundance of talented business operators and individuals in Manawatu.

Mr Pettengill said the judges who decided the winners of individual awards were "blown away" by the high standard of finalists.

It is the second year the Manawatu Hospitality Awards have been held and, while the inaugural event was a huge success, Mr Pettengill said it attracted even more industry support this year.

- © Fairfax NZ News