source : the age
The historic Yarra Valley gem referred to as a “beacon for weary travellers” but actually named the Alpine Hotel Warburton has taken out Pub of the Year in a move that clearly has surprised owner Anthony Northwood.
“I wasn’t expecting this s–t,” Northwood, who took the stage with fellow owner Rachael Northwood, said to laughter after admitting he had not prepared a speech.
The Northwoods keep it short and sweet, thanking executive chef James Holden and their “awesome crew” before cheerily walking off.
Similarly to Cote Basque, there’s a focus on sherry at this thoroughbred bar, Three Horses.
Its three horsemen – Rob Libecans, Matt Stirling and Ryan Noreiks – have nabbed this very award before, for Caretaker’s Cottage in 2022. Congrats on the quinella!
We have a feeling a few hospo types will be galloping over there tonight to continue the celebrations.
Sommelier of the Year
A singular, deft and daring drinks mind, Charles Duan, a former chef, showcases pairings of rare depth and diversity at Restaurant Gaea in Fitzroy. Duan’s out-of-the-box wine list holds its own alongside the tasting menu’s 18-plus courses. Start with a ceramic thimble of sweet lemongrass chai, then prepare for lift-off.
“I’ve actually just quit being a somm … I’m focusing back on being a chef. But I am still very stoked with this,” says Duan during his acceptance speech, to plenty of applause.
Drinks List of the Year
There are many roads to take at this buzzy new Spanish-leaning grill, but they all lead to pleasure. Trader House drinks guru Leanne Altmann’s list feels drawn from the same world as the menu: generous, a little hedonistic, built for lingering, and with plenty of nods to the Basque Country.
Side note: Presenter Besha Rodell, The Age’s chief restaurant critic, insists the $45 Marsala Manhattan cocktail is so worth it.
And we’re off…
This evening’s first award is awarded to a quintessential pub – new or old – that’s embedded in its community and is welcoming to all.
Ticking every box of a true country pub while delivering exceptional food and drink, Warburton winner the Alpine Hotel pulls off the great tightrope walk of soul and style (and old and new, given it’s been perched on its hillock for 141 years).
Congratulations to owners Rachael and Anthony Northwood, who respectfully updated the stately red brick building in 2021.
Tom Sarafian is here, fresh off the back of winning The Age Good Food Guide 2026 New Restaurant of the Year last year for his Collingwood eatery Zareh, which is a finalist for Restaurant of the Year this year. So who is Sarafian tipping to claim the New Restaurant gong this year?
“There’s some pretty awesome restaurants that have opened,” he says. “I think Rosheen Kaul’s restaurant [Little Rose] is amazing, Yiaga is fantastic, and we just had a beautiful lunch at Cote Basque before coming here and that was phenomenal. It’s going to be a pretty tough choice.”
Plant-based chef Shannon Martinez from Smith + Daughters has some strong opinions on coffee. One of her favourite places for a morning brew is Contraband Coffee Traders at Preston.
“They make their coffees especially to suit plant-based milks,” she says.
One trend that she’s not loving right now is over-the-top drinks.
“Let’s just drink coffee for coffee and stop putting all the bulls–t on top of it.”
Narrowing the field to just five finalists for The Age Good Food Guide’s New Restaurant of the Year, as is tradition, was too difficult a task for Breheny, Sweet and the other members of the Guide’s senior reviewing panel. They decided to mark the bumper year with a list of 10 finalists who have shaped Victorian dining in the last 12 months. Cast your vote here:
“My favourite restaurant right now has to Bistra in Cartlon” says Ainslie Lubbock, manager of the three-pronged Pt. Leo Estate mega-venue on the Mornington Peninsula, and a finalist for the Oceania Cruises Service Excellence Award today. (Bistra’s Celina Harrower is a finalist for the Katie McCormack Young Service Talent award).
For a perfect day in the region, Lubbock suggests lunch at Barragunda in Cape Schanck, where chef Simone Watts’ farm-driven cooking led to a finalist nomination for Regional Restaurant of the Year.
“You should also try for a cheeky stopover at Tedesca,” she adds.
And for the best martini in Mornington? “That has to be super cold and dry one made by Pt. Leo Estate bar manager Jakob Etzold.”
As well as celebrating and congratulating the state’s one-, two-, and three-hat restaurants, there are plenty of awards to be presented onstage. While the guests are taking their seats, here’s a cheat sheet on the finalists, in case you missed it.
The 17 awards that will be announced today
- Pub of the Year
- Sommelier of the Year
- Drinks List of the Year
- Bar of the Year
- Regional Restaurant of the Year
- T2 Tea Cafe of the Year
- Food for Good Award
- Cultural Change Champion
- Oceania Cruises Service Excellence Award
- Katie McCormack Young Service Talent Award
- Young Chef of the Year
- Critics’ Pick of the Year
- Trailblazer Award, presented by SevenRooms
- Legend Award
- New Restaurant of the Year, presented by Aurum Poultry Co.
- Oceania Cruises Chef of the Year
- T2 Tea Restaurant of the Year
