food

vote for the best!

Introducing the finalists in the Metro/Audi Restaurant Personality of the Year

Award 2012, which honours the best waitstaff and managers in town.

the Winner Will be decided by the public text your vote noW

Carol Pearcy Ganesh Raj

co-owner

Mimi Gilmour
co-owner

Cat Vosper
owner

Gary olasz
restaurant manager & sommelier

sommelier

Tasting Shed
609 state highway 16, kumeu. ph 412-6454. The Tasting Shed is my first experience running a restaurant and I just love it. I can be who I am on the floor only because we have such an outstanding team. Twice a week I do my shuttle bus run to pick up city customers, and locals seem to have taken us to their hearts as well they like that its the sort of place where you can just rock up. text: ganesh to 244

Basque Kitchen & Bar

61 davis cres, newmarket. ph 523-1057. Right from the start we knew New Zealand wines wouldnt work at Basque Kitchen. It has to be authentically Spanish. And thats one of the things I love most about where I work teaching people about Spanish wines and sherries. Its so cool when customers say something like, Ill have an oloroso because theyve tasted it last time they were at Basque Kitchen. text: carol to 244

Michelle Moore
waiter

district dining & Mexico

50 customs st & 23 britomart place, city. ph 368-5315. I was born into restaurants. Id run around my mothers restaurant as a kid, and Ive worked in them since I was a teenager. I do a bit of everything at District Dining and Mexico. Because its so in my blood, I sometimes see things that other people dont. Im at work from 7am to about 10pm every day, but it doesnt feel like a job to me. text: mimi to 244

Casita Miro
3 brown rd, onetangi, waiheke. ph 372-7854. Its so important that everyone on the floor knows the menu inside and out, every wine and how its produced everything. Training is huge for us. Because of the itinerant Waiheke workforce, Im constantly retraining, but we have the most extraordinary people walk through the door. And everyone brings something new to the mix. Cat won this award last year and has been invited back to defend her title. text: cat to 244

James Kirkwood
co-owner & sommelier

Joe Williams
restaurant manager

Sunday Painters
185 ponsonby rd, ponsonby. ph 360-2001. In my day job as a wine merchant, Im selling bottles which go into peoples cellars and thats it. At Sunday Painters, I get instant feedback. I do find myself reading people: I can tell when a customer is up for something adventurous. And it makes my night when I pour a glass and ask a customer what they think, and they say, Actually its really great. text: james to 244

depot
86 federal st, city. ph 363-7048. Because we dont take bookings, its really exciting you never know whos going to come in. Since we opened its just been mental. We havent had a night when we havent been full. People love Depot because it covers all the bases. Its got amazing food and wine, but its casual you can laugh, you can argue, be a bit rowdy. And you can spill your wine and its no big deal. text: joe to 244

Roxy
7 fort lane, city. ph 929-2701. Pairing wine with food, this is my biggest joy. Its important that one doesnt overpower the other. You want each to elevate the other, and for the two to combine really magically in your mouth. Even though Im European, its small, handcrafted New Zealand wines that I love showcasing. text: gary to 244

The french Cafe

210 symonds st, eden terrace. ph 377-1911. At the French Cafe, its all about whats best for the customer. Its anniversaries, birthdays, special occasions. Customers will walk in the door and theyll have been excited for weeks. And its not cheap. Our job is to have them leave and go, Wow, that was the most amazing birthday Ive ever had. It was worth every cent. text: michelle to 244
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2012

damaris Coulter
co-owner

Cocos Cantina
376 karangahape rd, newton. ph 300-7582. Working at Cocos is never a chore, because its on our own terms. Not only do I have the luxury of working with my sister Renee and our amazing staff, we also have such cool punters. We have a sign that says, This is a restaurant for nice people and that really is what we get. text: damaris to 244

Weve chosen our finalists from some of the best restaurants in Auckland. The winner will be announced in our May issue, along with our Top 50 restaurant list and all the other winners in the Metro/Audi Restaurant of the Year Awards.
PhotograPhed at roxy by Simon young.

vote & Win

Entries close 10am, friday, April 13, and one lucky voter, chosen at random, will receive a years free subscription to Metro. Texts cost 20 cents.