Best of Wellington’s Eat Drink Play festival celebrated at awards night

Monday, 24 July 2023

Popular Wellington bar Concrete took out the best cocktail experience with its Drink The Stars event featuring distinctly Kiwi, old fashioned cocktails named for each of the nine stars in the Matariki cluster.

Wellington’s beating heart - its hospitality industry - was recognised during the Hospo Awards at the Public Trust Hall on Sunday evening.

Karaka Café won one of the biggest awards of the night for its ‘Hākari Kai,’ a yum-cha style hāngi food, which won Best Festival Eat, with Ernesto’s taking out the Spirit of the Festival award for its Matariki Degustation menu during this year’s Eat Drink Play festival.

The festival, now in its third year, ran between July 1-16 and for the first time, coincided with the Māori New Year Matariki.

Ernesto’s head chef Kit Foe said their Matariki menu saw fine dining crossover with traditional Māori ingredients.

“The Matariki stars signal the time for harvesting and feasting. From a business perspective, it’s important we reconnect with where our food comes from and recognise the ingredients we grow, catch and share with our customers.”

Karaka Café won one of the biggest awards of the night for its yum-cha style hāngi food. (File photo)

Concrete took out the Best Cocktail Experience for its ‘Drink the Stars’ event, and Best Mixologist for Kyle Wright.

Other venues recognised included Southern Cross, for its workshop and performance Burlesque, Bubbles & Boobies, and the The Cambridge Hotel for its ‘Murder at the Cambridge Hotel’ themed event.

The award ceremony was hosted by legendary drag performer Chai, who was supported by LouisTM and DJ Shan, and brought a close to the festival which was started in 2021 to reinvigorate the capital’s hospitality scene post-pandemic restrictions.

Hospitality New Zealand vice-president Paul Retimanusaid he appreciated the city’s residents support of local businesses.

“Venues need this injection, and Wellingtonians love getting out, we think the festival moving into winter was a great pivot and provides our smaller businesses with the foot traffic need to thrive during a traditionally slow season.”

Eat Drink Play Festival Award Winners

Best Festival Eat: Karaka Cafe ‒ HĀKARI KAI (YUM-CHA STYLE)

Best Festival Drink: El Barrio Latino Bar & Restaurant ‒ Fejoia Your Soul

Best Festival Play: Southern Cross ‒ Burlesque, Bubbles & Boobies

Best Festival Live Music event: Jack Hackets ‒ Lady Sings the Blues

Outstanding Festival Dining: Portlander ‒ Sky, Surf, Soil and Sow

Best Mixologist and Cocktail Experience: Concrete ‒ Kyle Wright ‒ Drink the Stars

Best Festival Themed Event: The Cambridge Hotel ‒ Murder at the Cambridge Hotel

Best Festival Party Event: Leroy’s ‒ Bourbon St New Orleans Takeover

Best Festival Bartender: Little Beer Quarter ‒ Ryan Robertson

Best Festival Chef: El Barrio Latino Bar & Restaurant ‒ Maidah Arugay

Excellence in Marketing & Innovation: Gear Street Union ‒ Hair of the Dog

Rising Star Award: The Residence ‒ Kaya Sweeney

Spirit of the Festival ‒ Feed Your Soul Award: Ernesto’s Cocina Cubana ‒ Celestial Feast: Matariki Degustation ‒ Kit Foe

Award for Outstanding Contribution: NZVC ‒ Becs Christiansen