Gourmet Traveller unveiled its annual shortlist of Australia’s leading hospitality talent and culinary experiences this week, shining a spotlight on Canberra’s thriving culinary scene. Local Parisian-inspired favourite, Onzieme, emerged as the crème de la crème, capturing the title of ACT Restaurant of the Year.

The winners were announced on Monday 21 August at a glittering gala held in Sydney attended by a star-studded guest list of top chefs, including Peter Gilmore and Rosheen Kaul.

Hatted Canberra chef Louis Couttoupes developed his massively popular pop-up, Kiosk, into the Onzieme bistro amidst the 2021 lockdowns.

His triumph follows the announcement that another local culinary venture, Such and Such, was one of nine restaurants in the running for the Best New Restaurant award.

Expectations were high when owner of Such and Such and Pilot, Dash Rumble, was also nominated in the Restaurant Personality of the Year category.

Ultimately, both Such and Such and Rumble were beaten out by Serai in Melbourne, and director of Institut Polaire in Tasmania, Louise Radman, in their respective categories.

Still, the acclaim in Gourmet Traveller’s August issue (out now) rings no less true, “Dash Rumble has a clear vision of what good service looks and feels like. You can see it in her disarming smile when she opens the door at Pilot”.

“Mostly, though, you’ll spot it in her teams – an assemblage of invested, energetic young professionals setting a high standard for hospitality in the bush capital that’s full of wit and sparkle. Lucky Canberra.”

Onzieme is located at 35 Kennedy Street, Kingston; Such and Such is located at 220 London Circuit, Civic, and you’ll find Pilot at the Ainslie shops.

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