Gourmet Traveller Hospitality Honours 2020 luncheon: who we saw

In the newly reopened Nomad in Sydney, Gourmet Traveller hosted a luncheon on Wednesday, November 4 to celebrate the GT Hospitality Honours List for 2020. Presented by PorkStar, the event brought together some of the individuals and businesses who have turned adversity into opportunity during this global pandemic.

It was a very different look from our traditional Restaurant Awards. Guests scanned QR codes to check-in to the venue; border closures meant our guest list was limited to chefs and friends from Sydney and Adelaide. But the hallmarks of a good Gourmet Traveller celebration remained: a healthy flow of gin from Four Pillars, liberal doses of wine from Bird in Hand, and a cavalcade of dishes made and served by the Nomad team, who had only reopened their doors for service the day prior.

It was a celebration of our November issue, an acknowledgement of the against-the-odds determination of restaurants and chefs, and a marker of hope for an industry that is starting to get back on its feet.

“We wanted to bring as many of you together as possible – to share the joy and energy that comes from sharing an incredible meal and connecting with other people,” said GT‘s editor and master-of-ceremonies Joanna Hunkin. “That is what the industry is built on and it is at the heart of everything we do and create at Gourmet Traveller.”

See the Gourmet Traveller Hospitality Honours List in full.

OzHarvest CEO Ronni Kahn with Peter Gilmore, executive chef of Sydney’s Quay and Bennelong.

Firedoor executive chef and owner Lennox Hastie with restaurateur Palisa Anderson (Boon Café and Boon Luck Farm)

Chase Kojima, executive chef of Sydney’s Sokyo.

Chef, restaurateur and author Kylie Kwong.

Sali Sasi and Nathan Sasi, co-owners of Leigh Street Wine Room, Adelaide.

Hope Delivery’s Neil Perry with Joanna Hunkin.

The dining room at Sydney’s Nomad restaurant.

Josh Niland and Julie Niland, co-owners of Sydney’s Saint Peter.

Georgia Doherty (sous chef) and Dan Puskas (chef-owner) of Sixpenny, Sydney.

Ragazzi’s Scott McComas-Williams (chef and co-owner) and Matt Swieboda (co-owner), Sydney.

Michael Chiem, owner and bartender, PS40, Sydney.

Waiting for The Milan Cricket club’s Nicholas Hill…

Junda Khoo, chef and co-owner of Sydney’s Ho Jiak restaurants.

Q&A with Joanna Hunkin and Nomad executive chef Jacqueline Challinor.

Smoked zucchini, fresh zucchini, feta, pepitas and pine nut tarator from the Nomad kitchen.

James Irvine, Four Pillars’ creative director of gin drinks, pouring the Four Pillars Olive Leaf Gin.

Jordan Toft, executive chef at Mimi’s, Sydney.

Kylie Roberts (PorkStar food service trade marketing manager), Nino Zoccali (co-owner of Sydney’s Pendolino), Nik HIll (head chef at The Milan Cricket Club, Sydney), Margo Andrae (CEO Australian Pork Ltd.) and Mitch Edwards (PorkStar general manager business and innovation).

Jacqueline Challinor prepares the next course while Kylie Kwong watches on.

Q&A with Paul Baker of Adelaide’s Chefs on Wheels.

Simon Kardachi and Adam Liston of Shobosho, Adelaide.

Kristy Frawley and Michael Rantissi, co-owners of Sydney’s Kepos Street Kitchen.

PorkStar’s Mitch Edwards (general manager business and innovation) takes the mic.

The Nero a’Avola 2018 from Bird in Hand winery, Adelaide Hills.

Nomad head chef Sam McCallum on the pass.

Federico Zanellato, chef-owner of Sydney’s LuMi.

Nomad owners Rebecca Yazbek and Al Yazbek.

Nomad’s olive-oil ice-cream sandwich with halva, pistachio and honeycomb.

Mitch Edwards with chef Emma McCaskill (Chefs on Wheels, Adelaide).

Georgie Meredith and Jordan Toft.

The table settings at Nomad.

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