- The Agrarian Kitchen, a farm-to-table destination in the Derwent Valley was named Australiaโs โRestaurant of the Yearโ for the 2024 awards โ a first for any venue from Tasmania.
- Mischa Tropp, of Keralan food specialist Toddy Shop in Melbourne, wins โBest New Talentโ.
- Critics double down on applause for Sydneyโs Cafe Paci, whose Chef-Owner Pasi Petรคnen is also recognised as Gourmet Travellerโs โChef of the Yearโ.
In a historic development for the annual Gourmet Traveller restaurant awards, The Agrarian Kitchen has just been named the vaunted publicationโs โRestaurant of the Yearโ for 2024.
This is the first time, in the 45-year history of the competition, that a venue from Australiaโs least populous state has nabbed the top spot.
Joanna Hunkin, Editor of Gourmet Traveller, cited the work that owners Rodney Dunn and Sรฉverine Demanet have put into โestablishing a truly sustainable food systemโ.
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Located in Tasmaniaโs Derwent Valley, amid the grounds of a former psychiatric hospital, the restaurantโs grounds are given over to hyper-seasonal gardens and a range of facilities that allow for fresh daily preparation of cheese, charcuterie and various fermented products.
Speaking from the official awards ceremony in Sydney last night, Demanet said she was โshockedโ to have received what many deem to be the ultimate honour in Australiaโs hospitality industry. โI thought, how can a little Tassie restaurant win restaurant of the year?โ she said.
Recognition for Demanet and The Agrarian Kitchen team โ an upmarket, farm-to-table operation located in one of Tasmaniaโs premier agricultural centres โ offers an interesting counterpoint to Mischa Tropp โ who was awarded โBest New Talentโ at this yearโs awards.
The Melburnian proprietor behind Toddy Shop, a โSouth Indian refreshment barโ, embodies a new wave of young Australian chefs who are winning a following for their commitment to championing homestyle non-European cuisines. (In this case, regional Indian specialties from the state of Kerala.)
Other highlights include the various accolades received by Finnish-born whiz Pasi Petรคnen; whose eponymous venue Cafe Paci was named โRestaurant of the Yearโ for NSW. More importantly, Petรคnen was also crowned โChef of the Yearโ: the only category in these awards that is conferred on the recipient by industry peers.
You can explore the full list of this yearโs Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards below:
The Gourmet Traveller Annual Restaurant Awards (2024)
Restaurant Of The Year: The Agrarian Kitchen, New Norfolk, TAS
Best New Restaurant: King Clarence, Sydney, NSW
Best New Talent: Mischa Tropp, Toddy Shop | Melbourne, VIC
Best Destination Dining: Chauncy, Heathcote, VIC
Wine Bar Of The Year: South West Wine Shop, Busselton, WA
Restaurant Personality Of The Year: Sarah Baldwin, Joy | Brisbane, QLD
Outstanding Contribution To Hospitality: The Ayubi Family, Parwana Afghan Kitchen | Torrensville, SA
Readersโ Choice Icon Award: Lake House, Daylesford, VIC
Now, explore all of the finalists (state by state) in this yearโs Restaurants Awards:
Gourmet Traveller Annual Restaurant Awards Finalists
Restaurant Of The Year
- ACT: Pilot, Ainslie
- NSW: Cafe Paci, Newtown
- VIC: Vue de Monde, Melbourne CBD
- QLD: Restaurant Labart, Burleigh Heads
- SA: Maxwell Restaurant, McLaren Vale
- TAS: The Agrarian Kitchen, New Norfolk
- WA: Casa, Mount Hawthorn
Best New Restaurant
- WA: Gibney, Perth
- VIC: Kafeneion, Melbourne
- NSW: King Clarence, Sydney
- SA: LVN Restaurant, Adelaide Hills
- TAS: Maria, Hobart
- QLD: Pneuma, Brisbane
Best New Talent
- WA: Sofika Boulton, Sonnyโs | Perth
- NSW: Jun Hwang, White Horse | Sydney
- SA: Simon Ming, Odรฉ | Adelaide
- QLD: Pietro Segalini, Pilloni | Brisbane
- VIC: Mischa Tropp, Toddy Shop | Melbourne
Wine Bar Of The Year
- VIC: Bar Olo, Melbourne
- TAS: Havilah, Launceston
- SA: Otherness, Angaston
- NSW: Poly, Sydney
- WA: South West Wine Shop, Busselton
- ACT: 11e Cave, Canberra
Best Destination Dining
- VIC: Chauncy, Heathcote
- SA: Elementary By Soul Co, Mount Gambier
- NSW: EXP. Restaurant, Hunter Valley
- QLD: Nu Nu, Palm Cove
- WA: Wills Domain, Margaret River
Restaurant Personality Of The Year
- QLD: Sarah Baldwin, Joy | Brisbane
- TAS: Lachlan Colwill and Sophie Pope, Omotenashi | Hobart
- SA: Mel Hamilton, Temperance and Fino | Seppeltsfield
- NSW: Dot Lee, Longshore | Sydney
- VIC: Tess Murray, Chauncy | Heathcote
- WA: Jae Woods, Le Rebelle | Perth
Readersโ Choice Icon Award
- VIC: Attica, Ripponlea
- VIC: Lake House, Daylesford
- NSW: Quay, Sydney CBD
- QLD: Rick Shores, Burleigh Heads
- NSW: Seanโs, North Bondi
- WA: Vasse Felix, Margaret River
