We’re Going Cruising…AND Eating Well In Country NSW

Hospitality Magazine reports that according to the Restaurant and Catering judges at this year’s NSW Regional Awards for Excellence many regional restaurants many are serving food as good as their Sydney counterparts.

What Did The Judges Find?

“The awards, held on 8 September, named Bannisters Restaurant in Mollymook the Best NSW Regional Restaurant, while Bella Vista Function Centre was awarded the Regional NSW Caterer of the Year Award.

After competing against more than 158 finalists in 36 restaurant and catering categories, the two winners will now go through to the Restaurant and Catering Australia national awards, held on 19 October at Parliament House, Canberra.

Held at Doltone House, the Regional Awards were presented in front of leading restaurateurs, caterers, apprentices, sponsors and suppliers.

Over the past three months, award winners have been recognised in the six regions throughout NSW encompassing the Blue Mountains/Central West, Northern, South Coast, Hunter, Central Coast and Southern NSW, with winners from these events competing on Tuesday night.

Other regional winners included Fins Restaurant in Kingscliff from northern NSW (Seafood Restaurant), Fresh Espresso and Food Bar in Katoomba from Blue Mountains/Central West (Breakfast Restaurant), Coast Bistro and Lounge in Terrigal from the Central Coast (European Restaurant) and Lee and Me in Wollongong from the South Coast region (New Restaurant).”

An incentive to explore our own backyard? Especially as..

We’re Going Cruising…According To P & O

30,000 Australians and New Zealanders booked cruises in August, more than double the same month last year, with most booking ahead for 2010 holidays.

“August and September are P&O’s busiest months, with Australians keen to escape the winter chill…

The number of passengers booked to sail from Brisbane doubled in August this year, compared with last year, while there had been a 62 per cent increase in bookings for voyages departing Sydney. Bookings from Auckland on Pacific Sun increased by 213 per cent in August, compared to same month last year…

.. many Australians are tightening their financial belts at the moment, and cruising is seen as a good value option because food and accommodation are included in the cost.

P&O’s record sales are also due to an increase in the number of people embarking on shorter cruises.

“We’re seeing the expansion in shorter cruises – the seven to 10 day cruises – and we’ve recently introduced some of our shortest cruises ever, like the three night sampler cruise (and).. we’re finding that people are then queuing up in the ship to book their next cruise after trying it the first time.”

PWF is happy to post info about short breaks in the country… email us some info?