Gingers are winners again?

Gingers (Ginger Room) must have a different kitchen from the Cafe in the House, because that would not win a prize any where. Football club food done for twice the price (and not good).

Nice to see Pod Food get up, a hidden gem. Mezzelira continues excellent year after year, now that’s a rare thing in Canberra.

It is an odd list though, perhaps only certain places, members of some association or soemething, are in the competition?

I understand they are judged by people who are in the Restaurant and Catering Association / on the board.
All the nominated cafes/restaurants (some self-nominated) are members of Restaurant & Catering Association and are listed on the R&C website.

http://www.rcnsw.asn.au/awards/2008_nominees_act-southern.htm

It’s really nothing more than industry hob-knobing & pats on the back. Some cafes are members of R&C, some are members of the Australian Hotel Association who have their own awards.
The awards seem nothing more than marketing tools/advertising.

A similar thing happens in Hairdressing. You’ll see one place who says they’re the best; they won a Redken award. Another will be the best because they won a Goldwell award. Whats really going on is that salon sold the most ‘product’ and therefore, as a reward, gets a plaque which then helps them sell more product again and build their business…

Not to detract from all the restaurants (or hairdressers) that win awards; there are a lot of good ones. Maestral is a lovely little place that truely deserves the award. Owner Chef who cooks all the meals; polite and friendly waitstaff; excellent food; great atmosphere.

But Carlos? Best of a bad field? Silo was in the same catergory and I dont care how pretentious they are, the food & service is always better than Carlos’. Maybe the judges just got lucky on the day they went in? Maybe Carlos’ been listening to all the sledging on this website about them and finally done something about it?? . Whatever, I’m certainly not about to down tools and head there immediately. Yucky poo.

ooh, my bad – i just read the crimes report that said they go there anonymously. im still in disbelief that carlo’s managed to cook a good meal.

and kinglseys is a bit of a surprise. perhaps they lifted their game. last time we went, the oysters were tepid, the salad warm and the steak cold.

yes i concur on footlooses carlo’s comment.
I have given up on that place after a attempt at lunch and breakfast, they even served burnt coffee to rub salt in the wound.

who judges these things and do the places know they’re coming?

The full list from Canberra Times (http://www.canberratimes.com.au/multimedia/images/large/343101.jpg)
is:
Caterer of the Year
Ginger Catering, Old Parliament House, Parkes

Restaurant of the Year
Sourcedining, Albury

Breakfast
Carlo’s at Watson, Watson

Byo
Maestral Seafood Restaurant, Weston Creek

Cafe
Milk and Honey, Civic

Contemporary Australian
Pod Food, Pialligo

Family
Le Rendezvous, Manuka

Formal Dining
The Ginger Room, Parkes

Indian
Bollywood Masala, Dickson

Italian
Mezzalira Ristoronte, Civic

Middle Eastern
Saffron, Manuka

Club
Southern Cross Restaurant and Cocktail Bar, Woden

Seafood
Cape Cod Seafood, Deakin

Steak
Kingsleys Steak & Crab House, Civic

Carlos at Watson won best breakfast cafe? Obviously the judges have tastebuds in their a**holes.