Four local restaurants staged a culinary coup at the Cuisine Good Food Awards on Monday, and in doing so shone a light on a region now revered as the best dining destination in the country.
After topppling the metro giants, the respective eateries' chefs, including ultimate winner and Pacifica owner Jeremy Rameka, said the wins were all about produce, pride and identity.
As well as Pacifica being named New Zealand's Restaurant of the Year, The Neat Meat Best Regional Restaurant Award went to Bistronomy, the Neighbourly Best New Restaurant went to Malo, while Elephant Hill also made the winner's list taking a One Hat Award.
Pacifica was commended by the judges for developing a genuine New Zealand cuisine, which drew strongly on fresh and local ingredients.
Mr Rameka said it was about New Zealand honing its own identity and it came down to attitude and the whole approach to food. "We don't need to copy anybody else."