The Pickled Sisters Cafe is the toast of Rutherglen Wine Region after taking out a prestigious national award.
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The Wahgunyah winery cafe won Best Cafe Restaurant in the Savour Australia National Awards, which were announced in Brisbane on October 26.
Operators Marion Hansford and Stewart Gilchrist, who attended the gala dinner at the Brisbane Convention Centre, were thrilled with their success.
The Pickled Sisters Cafe was named Savour Australia’s regional winner in the Victoria/Tasmania category in July to put them in the running for the national award.
Seven other finalists vied for the hotly-contested category.
“We were over the moon,” Ms Hansford said.
“To win the Victorian/Tasmania category was wonderful; we never thought we had a chance of taking out the national award.”
The Savour Australia National Awards recognise exceptional service, culinary excellence and great value for money.
Ms Hansford said the award was testament to their hard-working and loyal staff.
“It’s been our business for 11 years and the award is lovely for us and lovely for our staff,” she said.
“We have a dozen staff members and some of them have been with us from the start.
“We couldn’t do it without our dedicated staff.”
Green Zebra Albury was a finalist in the Best Breakfast Restaurant category and Rinaldo’s Casa Cucina Wangaratta a finalist in the Best Italian Restaurant.
The Pickled Sisters Cafe has a new spring menu up and running featuring duck with a rhubarb compote, pickled ginger and rocket salad and a rabbit, snowpea and tarragon risotto among highlights.
Ms Hansford said the cafe also offered Picnics in the Vines for small groups.
“The picnic baskets have always been available but now we can set up a table in the vines,” she said.
The Pickled Sisters is now preparing for the Cofield Wines Spring Dinner on Saturday, November 7.
Tickets are available at the cafe or from Cofield Wines.
