Lorenzo's Diner in Wollongong is officially the best Italian restaurant in Australia after winning the title at the National Restaurant and Catering Awards.
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Just one week before the race that stops a nation, it was Lorenzo Pagnan’s restaurant that stopped the judges in their tracks at the awards held at Royal Randwick Racecourse on Monday night.
The renowned chef-cum-restaurateur and his small Keira Street team were up against the strongest field of the night at the 2013 Savour Australia Restaurant & Catering HOSTPLUS Awards for Excellence.
‘‘The bookies were giving me good odds, I think,’’ Pagnan said yesterday.
‘‘We were just overwhelmed by the win.’’
The call of the finalists’ card included many Italian names such as Mezzalira Ristorante, Ristorante Trevi, Cacciatore Restaurant, Bel Cibo, Assaggio Ristorante, Viale Canova Ristorante Italiano, Rinaldo’s Casa Cucina and Andiamo Cafe.
But Lorenzo’s brought home the trophy after tasting success in the same category at the Southern NSW regional awards in August.
Pagnan thought he was attending the state awards and had not realised the format had changed.
When he realised it was the national awards, he didn’t think he stood a chance against the many well-known restaurants.
But then the presenter from sponsor American Express – who had handed him the state award in the same category in 2008 – looked at him and said, ‘‘Am I going to give it to Sydney or am I going to give it to Melbourne?’’
‘‘He then said, ‘No, it’s Wollongong...yes, it’s you, Lorenzo, yeh, it’s Lorenzo’s Diner’.
‘‘I was in shock,’’ Pagnan said.
‘‘I felt really humbled. It was a surreal moment. I felt really quite honoured.
‘‘With what is happening with Keira Street – this is another positive story. I think what I have done is going to help everyone around here.
‘‘You never expect to win something like that. Once you include restaurants from the whole of Australia, we are minuscule. We have just three chefs plus myself and six front of house.’’
The annual awards for excellence are designed to be a dependable and authoritative guide to Australia’s best restaurants and caterers.
They are also recognised as the most important and respected industry awards with more than 500 trained judges and 1500 entrants.
Winners are recognised as setting a national benchmark.
Pagnan has also just opened a new lounge bar to complement the restaurant.
Moss Vale’s M&B Food and Catering claimed the national award in the small caterer category and was also a finalist in the caterer of the year category.
It was one of four businesses in the region that were finalists in multiple categories.
The other three were The Vineyard Kitchen at Cupitt’s Winery, Ulladulla; Eschalot Restaurant, Berrima; and City Beach Function Centre, Wollongong.
Italian restaurant of the year national finalists:
Mezzalira Ristorante, Canberra
Ristorante Trevi, Penrith
Cacciatore Restaurant, Pokolbin
Bel Cibo, Port Douglas
Assaggio Ristorante, Hyde Park
Viale Canova Ristorante Italiano, Clayfield
Lorenzo’s Diner, Wollongong
Aqua Dining, Milsons Point
Metropolitan Sarti Restaurant & Bar, Melbourne
Rinaldo’s Casa Cucina, Wangaratta
Andiamo Cafe, Rockingham