Manager and sommelier Orlando Bagnara, from Assaggio Ristorante. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe Source: AdelaideNow

THE owners of Assaggio had two reasons to celebrate last night, with their stylish Italian restaurant and casual cafe both picking up major prizes.

Their awards came in the 2012 Restaurant and Catering Awards for Excellence.

Assaggio Ristorante in Hyde Park, a complete package of finely-honed cooking, elegant surrounds and seamless service, won the big prize - restaurant of the year.

Over the other side of town, in our Italian heartland, the more relaxed pizzas and pastas of Assaggio Cafe at Campbelltown took out the cafe prize.

Other big winners included Chung Jae Lee, from Mapo Korean Restaurant, who was named best chef, and Press Food & Wine, which took out both the popular choice and best new restaurant prizes.

The best Chinese category went to From Orient, best Indian to Dhaba at the Spice Kitchen and best steak to The Barn Steakhouse in Mount Gambier.

Three restaurants were also inducted into the Hall of Fame after three successive awards - Auge (Italian), Pipers of Penola (regional) and Blanc Bistro & Grill (seafood).

The individual hall of fame award was presented to Norberto Spagnolo, who opened Adelaide's first Argentinian restaurant, Gaucho's in Gouger St, and now runs Buenos Aires Brasserie.

Another industry veteran, Leo Schadegg from Alphutte, won the Lifetime Achiever Award. Restaurant and Catering SA chief executive Sally Neville said the awards had attracted a record 280 entries.

Continued here:
Twin venues taste awards success