By Kerry Larsen - kerry@thenewsport.com.au

Port Douglas’ restaurants and caterers scooped the pool at Monday night’s Restaurant and Catering Awards for Excellence at Cairns’ Pullman Casino, taking the two major awards and a swag of other titles.

Ten Port Douglas restaurants were nominated in the Far North Queensland section of the awards - with five category awards handed out to local establishments – while two catering awards were handed out to Port Douglas businesses.

Zinc Restaurant backed up from last year’s awards to take out Best Contemporary Australian restaurant for the second consecutive year, as well as taking the overall honours with Restaurant of the Year.

Lure, at the Meridien Marina, also took two titles as best breakfast restaurant (ahead of Hi Tide at The Peninsula, which also received a nomination in the hotel/motel/accommodation category) and best café restaurant.

Salsa Bar and Grill held their own, scooping the title of Caterer of the Year and earning an honourable mention, while also earning a nomination for best contemporary Australian restaurant.

Other honourable mentions went to The Beach Shack Restaurant and Bar in Four Mile for best family restaurant and Bucci for best Italian restaurant; all three of Port Douglas’ specialist seafood restaurants earned nominations in the best seafood restaurant category; and Harrison’s was nominated for best fine dining.

Local caterers Port Douglas Catering and Events also did the town proud, earning the best wedding caterer of the year title and was also runner-up in the event catering section.

MAJOR AWARDS

Caterer of the Year
Sponsored by Bidvest
Winner - Salsa Bar & Grill, PORT DOUGLAS

Restaurant of the Year
Sponsored by HOSTPLUS
Winner - Zinc, PORT DOUGLAS

RESTAURANT AWARDS

Breakfast Restaurant
Sponsored by APRA
Hi Tide Café- Bar- Restaurant, PORT DOUGLAS
Winner - Lure Restaurant, PORT DOUGLAS

Café Restaurant
Sponsored by APRA
Jagad's Epicurian Emporium Innisfail, INNISFAIL
Winner - Lure Restaurant, PORT DOUGLAS

Contemporary Australian Restaurant
Sponsored by ALSCO
Dundees Restaurant on the Waterfront, CAIRNS CITY
Salsa Bar & Grill, PORT DOUGLAS
Salt House, CAIRNS
Winner - Zinc, PORT DOUGLAS

European Restaurant
Sponsored by American Express
Winner - M Yogo, CAIRNS
Nicks Swiss Italian Restaurant, YUNGABURRA

Family Restaurant
Sponsored by Coca-Cola
Honourable Mention - The Beach Shack Restaurant and Bar, PORT DOUGLAS

Fine Dining Restaurant
Sponsored by Vittoria Coffee
Harrisons Restaurant, PORT DOUGLAS
Winner - Tamarind Restaurant, CAIRNS

Italian Restaurant – Informal
Sponsored by Vittoria Coffee
HONOURABLE MENTION - Bucci, PORT DOUGLAS

New Restaurant
Sponsored by HOSTPLUS
Winner - Linga Longa, EDGE HILL
Yungaburra Pizzeria, YUNGABURRA

Restaurant in a Hotel / Motel / Resort
Sponsored by OAMPS
Winner - Far Horizon's, PALM COVE
Hi Tide Café- Bar- Restaurant, PORT DOUGLAS

Seafood Restaurant
Sponsored by Lion
2 Fish Restaurant, PORT DOUGLAS
Finz Port Douglas, PORT DOUGLAS
On the Inlet Seafood Restaurant, PORT DOUGLAS
Winner - Tha Fish, CAIRNS

Speciality Restaurant
Sponsored by Treasury Wine Estates
Winner - Bayleaf Balinese Restaurant, CAIRNS
Blue Moon Grill, TRINITY BEACH
Mado Cairns, CAIRNS

Steak Restaurant
Sponsored by Meat & Livestock Australia
Paddy Whacks, CAIRNS
Winner - Waterbar & Grill Steakhouse, CAIRNS

Asian Restaurant
Sponsored by Coca-Cola
Beach Almond, PALM COVE
Winner - Café China Seafood Restaurant, CAIRNS
Choc Dee Thai Restaurant, PALM COVE

CATERING AWARDS

Caterer at an Event
Sponsored by Meat & Livestock Australia
Winner - Ochre Restaurant & Catering, CAIRNS
Port Douglas Catering & Events, PORT DOUGLAS

Restaurant Caterer
Sponsored by Bidvest
Honourable Mention - Salsa Bar & Grill, PORT DOUGLAS

Wedding Caterer
Sponsored by Bidvest
Winner - Port Douglas Catering & Events, PORT DOUGLAS
Angsana Resort & Spa, PALM COVE