Crown Terrace Chef Gets His Just Desserts
Illawarra Mercury
Tuesday March 10, 1998
A move from Sydney's Wentworth Hotel to Wollongong's Crown Terrace Functions and Conference Centre has helped further the career of apprentice chef Cian Guningham.
The young chef won best fourth year apprentice at Sunday night's Restaurant and Catering NSW Southern Region Awards for Excellence held in Canberra.
"It's going to look good on the resume, that's for sure," Mr Guningham said yesterday.
He reckoned his Asian-inspired barramundi and mascarpone brulee dessert must have impressed judges at a cook-off at Nowra TAFE last week.
Mr Guningham, who hopes to work in Europe before returning to Australia to open his own restaurant on the South Coast, followed his mentor chef Troy Williams to Wollongong from the Sydney hotel where he began his apprenticeship three years ago.
"He is an excellent teacher and he has a lot of time for his staff," Mr Guningham said of the function centre's executive chef.
Ulladulla chef Jodi Lochrin won best first year apprentice.
Her employer, The Harbourside Restaurant, won restaurant of the year at the second annual awards at the Park Royal Hotel Conference Centre. The Harbourside also took out best modern Australian casual dining restaurant of the year.
The awards were judged anonymously last month by industry professionals, including former chefs and caters, hospitality teachers and food writers.
Restaurants were selected according to the number of votes received by the public who responded to newspaper advertisements in January.
Nowra's Riverhaven Restaurant won the popular choice award, and Albion Park's Tongarra Restaurant won the family restaurant award a second time.
Wollongong's Cafe Suraz, in Corrimal St, won best new restaurant award.
Restaurant and Catering NSW Southern Region Awards for Excellence
Restaurant of the Year: The Harbourside Restaurant, Ulladulla
Popular Choice: The Riverhaven Restaurant, Nowra
Popular Choice (caterer): The Riverhaven Restaurant, Nowra
New Restaurant: Cafe Suraz, Wollongong
BYO Restaurant: For Love of Country, Berry
Cafe/Coffee Lounge: Pigalle Cafe Restaurant, Wollongong
European: Zita's Restaurant, Wollongong East
Family: The Tongarra Restaurant, Albion Park
Italian: The Trevi Fountain, Nowra
Local Favourite: Smokies Steakhouse, Wollongong
Modern Australian (casual dining): The Harbourside Restaurant, Ulladulla
Modern Australian (formal dining): The Boatshed Restaurant, Nowra
Seafood: The Beach House Seafood Restaurant, North Wollongong
Wine List: Tory's Seafood, Ulladulla
Best apprentices:
First Year: Jodi Lochrin, The Harbourside Restaurant, Ulladulla
Second Year: Gabrielle Wilson, Caddy's Restaurant, Albury
Third Year: Nathan Dean, All Things Tasty, Wagga Wagga
Fourth Year Apprentice: Cian Guningham, Crown Terrace Functions and Conference Centre, Wollongong.
© 1998 Illawarra Mercury