THE GOURMET TRAVELLER RESTAURANT AWARDS 2021

After a hiatus in 2020, the Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards return, setting new benchmarks in the local dining landscape.

The last year has been a challenging time for many industries, but the hospitality industry has taken one of the largest hits.

After getting through an extremely tough 2020, there are many reasons to celebrate and acknowledge the industry - so it seems only apt that the Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards are set to return. The award's winners for this year will include the prestigious Restaurant of the Year, to be revealed at a glittering award dinner on October 27 at Gimlet at Cavendish House in Melbourne.

It's an exciting time for Melbourne - the event will be held there for the first time in 10 years, celebrating the city's resilient and world-class hospitality industry. The city is often regarded a leader and the culinary capital. The event itself will be a gala dinner, where chef Andrew McConnell will create a bespoke menu for the night with wines by headline sponsor Levantine Hill.

The awards are pretty serious in the industry and considered the 'oscars' of the Australian food and wine world! Awards up for grabs include the best new restaurant, best wine bar, best new talent and the ultimate highly sought-after accolade, Restaurant of the Year.

"The Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards have always been about celebrating the best dining experiences in Australia and reflect how Australians want to dine," says Joanna Hunkin (pictured above), "The challenges of the past 18 months have created seismic change within the industry, making this year's awards more significant than ever. It will be a night of genuine celebration and one we are thrilled to share with the Melbourne industry as it continues its recovery."

Keep an eye to for the October issue of Gourmet Traveller, which will announce the finalists - on sale September 27.

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WORDS | Hande Renshaw

IMAGES | Courtesy of Gourmet Traveller