PRESS RELEASE

 Chef Ben Batterbury Awarded ‘Outstanding Chef’ at Inaugural Southern Lakes Hospitality Awards

Ben Batterbury, Executive Chef at the True South Dining Room at The Rees Hotel, Queenstown took out the award for Outstanding Chef at last night’s inaugural Southern Lakes Hospitality Awards, aptly named “The Remarkables”. Finalists included Peter Gawron, Saffron Restaurant; Martin James, Wai Waterfront Restaurant; Mark Sage, Gibbston Valley Winery; Michael Mohr, Botswana Butchery

The criteria for the award states that “This chef produces innovative and creative menus, showing exceptional culinary techniques using only the best ingredients. They run a kitchen that produces consistently excellent dishes and sets standards through training and education.”

Voting for the awards was conducted in a manner similar to the Academy Awards with only members of the local hospitality industry entitled to vote. A total of over 4000 votes were cast for the 12 award categories.

Our True South Dining Room expresses our pride in the region with a menu of dishes, for both breakfast and dinner, based on local produce from high quality suppliers in the area south of Christchurch.

Buying local not only assures us of freshness and quality control, it’s good for our carbon footprint, reducing our food miles at a time when the need for environmentally sustainable practices is growing.

At True South, we offer monthly menu changes, with seasonal variations, to feature foods such as West Coast whitebait, Stewart Island blue cod, salmon, mussels, crayfish, abalone and oysters, Haka Valley merino lamb, free range pork from Havoc in Waimate, rabbit and other game meats from Fare Game. Gibbston Valley and Oamaru Whitestone cheeses, and Cairnmuir olive oil.

We provide a choice of the best wines from the different sub-regions of Central Otago, Emmerson’s ales from Dunedin and delicious local fruit juices.

Our chefs use local produce to create a range of special dishes and platters to compliment selections of from our professionally managed, private cellar stock of world-renowned chateau wines from Bordeaux.

At The Rees Hotel Queenstown, we are committed to projecting local Central Otago’s history, heritage and character, in the original art throughout the hotel, in the collection of books on the settlement of the region in our lounge library, and now in the menu of the True South Dining Room.

The True South Dining Room epitomises sophisticated elegant dining with an emphasis on the fantastic produce from our district, served in truly mouth watering dishes. A new menu is created monthly with the best seasonal ingredients showcasing the talents and passion of our creative chefs. True South is stylish and sumptuous, perfect for an evening of the most delicious food and splendid wine. Daydream as you scan the breath-taking view across Lake Wakatipu to the Remarkable Mountains, have an intimate chat at a discreet corner table or enjoy a star studded evening on our balcony. True South is a taste of Southern Hospitality at its best.

ENDS

About The Rees Hotel and Luxury Apartments

The Rees Hotel and Luxury Apartments blends luxury five star accommodation that has all the comforts of home, along with the service and facilities of an elite international hotel. Situated on the absolute lakefront, The Rees’ terraced construction delivers complete privacy and showcases panoramic views overlooking Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables Mountains in Queenstown, New Zealand.

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For media related requests please contact:

Mark Rose Tel:  +64 3 450 1105  Email: mark@therees.co.nz

Sarah Sparks Tel: +64 21 318813 Email: sarah.sparks @markomPR.com