Top restaurateurs hounoured

Over a twelve-month period they enjoy a variety of cuisines, and make ratings based on food, presentation, and service. They are also interested in wine lists and frequently pass comments on ambience.
Some reviewers have even devoted an entire paragraph to the quality of the rest rooms of the establishments they visit. Based on their findings, a number of awards are made to deserving restaurateurs, at a lavish annual brunch, hosted by Gary Davidson of the Cheeseman.
Any competitor in the running this year, would have marked a big X on the calendar for Restaurants of the Year Awards, June 28. The revels this year were held at Wild Geese Lodge, a popular venue a few kilometres outside Harare, surrounded by Brachystegia woodland and adjoining a small game park.
Because of power and water cuts at home, necessitating a Florence Nightingale style bath in a cup of water, and an early morning cup of tea brewed on an outside fire, I arrived late.
Nevertheless I was in time to hear an enthusiastic speech by South African Jacques Jordan, marketing and export director of the du Toitskloof Wine Cellar in the Western Cape, which produces ten million litres of wine a year. It was Jordan’s first visit here, although for some years he has been supplying wines to Zimbabwean wine merchant Malcolm Birch of Big 5 Wines.
Thanks to Big 5 Wines, a major sponsor of the Zimbabwe on a Plate Restaurants of the Year Awards, guests were plied with endless bottles of prize winning Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Pinotage Ruby Cabernet, all from the du Toitskloof wine cellar. 
The mood was mellow when Competition Manager Rosie Mitchell described how close many competitors had been in their ratings, making final decisions difficult. A variety of personages were invited to announce winners, rather in the style of American Idols and the Grammy awards, although no time was allocated for thank you speeches.
Makuwa-kuwa at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge was named Deluxe Restaurant of the Year yet again, while the ever-popular Boma was given the Award of Excellence. These two restaurants are definitely in the ‘must do’ category when visiting Victoria Falls. Speciality Restaurant category went to the Shop Café, where Kerry Wallace has been treating the public to exceptional food for the last nine years.
Popular Alo Alo, adjoining the Alliance Francaise in Harare’s Avenues, won Family Restaurant of the Year, while the Roasted Berry in Bulawayo was unanimously voted Deluxe Coffee shop of the Year.
Tony’s Coffee Shop in the Vumba, said by some to rival elegant coffee shops in Paris and Vienna, won Coffee Shop of the Year. A prize for Wine List of the Year went to Millers, of Ballantyne Park.
It is not easy for restaurants to maintain top class standards every day of the week, and it is impossible to know when the Connoisseur’s food writers are going to descend upon your establishment.
If they wore trench coats and dark glasses, you might have some warning, but in reality they probably resemble a jury panel — twelve good men/women and true, who enjoy eating out.
2010 promises to be an exciting year in many respects, not only for Zimbabwe on a Plate, so I would encourage all restaurateurs and hoteliers to maintain their excellence, and to anticipate recognition and success in the year to come.

– Comments to cmalakoff@gmail.com