Hopgood's tastes success

COLIN SMITH/ The Nelson Mail

ARMFUL OF TROPHIES: Hopgood's Restaurant and Bar owner Kevin Hopgood with trophies from the New Zealand King Salmon 2009 Nelson Hospitality Awards last night.

Hopgood's Restaurant and Bar has again been judged Nelson's best restaurant and for the fourth year in a row, it is home to the city's best chef.

The restaurant won the outstanding restaurant award at the New Zealand King Salmon Nelson Hospitality Awards last night for the second consecutive year and owner Kevin Hopgood won outstanding chef yet again.

Hopgood's also won the award for outstanding hospitality business and staff member Jody Keefe-Lang won the title of up-and-coming chef.

Mr Hopgood said the restaurant award was an honour. He put the win down to the restaurant always trying to better its service.

"We are always reading new cookbooks and changing our wine list," he said. "We are always working to develop the quality of the restaurant."

Using the best possible local produce also helped. "When we started, that was our point of difference here.

"It's good to see others doing the same thing now," Mr Hopgood said.

He said it was positive to see one of his chefs winning best up-and-coming chef.

"He is a fantastic chef. We really have a great team here, there is a great energy and everyone just enjoys coming to work each day."

Mr Hopgood said although it was nice to receive the outstanding chef award, he thought there were other chefs around the city who were particularly talented.

"It is nice to be recognised, though," he said.

He opened the upper Trafalgar St restaurant in 2006 after he moved to Nelson from Britain.

Usually the event would be held in August.

However, the organisers moved it forward this year to allow people to enter the new Nelson Hospitality Awards Scholarship which develops up-and-coming industry professionals in the region.

The region's best hospitality workers and businesses were recognised at the annual New Zealand King Salmon Nelson Hospitality Awards last night.

The winners were:

Outstanding waiter/maitre d': Derek Henry, Lambrettas Cafe Bar; up-and-coming chef: Jody Keefe-Lang, Hopgoods; outstanding established bar: Harry's Bar; outstanding new bar: Sprig&Fern, Hardy St.

Best ambience in hospitality venue: Monterey Cafe & Garden; outstanding barperson: Scott Bradley, Sprig & Fern, Milton St; outstanding gaming venue: Wakatu Hotel.

Outstanding barista: Hannah Breeze, Sublime; outstanding sales representative: Bevan Spooner, Lion Nathan; outstanding supplier: Mediterranean Food Warehouse.

Outstanding chef: Kevin Hopgood, Hopgoods; outstanding hospitality business: Hopgoods; outstanding host responsibility: Moutere Inn; outstanding wine list: Hot Rock Gourmet Pizza & Pasta Bar.

Outstanding cafe: Lambrettas Cafe Bar; outstanding restaurant: Hopgoods; outstanding ethnic cuisine: Sachi.

Outstanding door person: Wayne O'Reilly, Little Rock Bar & Nite Club; outstanding hospitality personality: JohnWheeler, Honest Lawyer.

- © Fairfax NZ News