British Expats - Todays Launch of the 2006 Age GFG

Think I'm first in divulging this in today's The Age in Melbourne:

"Federation Square eatery Taxi has been named Restaurant of the Year at the launch of The Age Good Food Guide 2006.

Taxi Dining Room, on the Yarra River edge, received two hats last night and the top award in the annual guide.

Restaurateur Paul Mathis was overwhelmed with the award, and said he wanted to receive the honour next year - for his new Square-based restaurant Upper House.

"We're going to work our back-bone off," he said.

Guide editor Roslyn Grundy said the award acknowledged the excitement that Taxi generated on the local dining scene.

No award was given for Best New Restaurant this year.

"We didn't feel there was anyone really worthy," Ms Grundy said.

Rising to join Flower Drum on three hats were Circa, Pearl and Vue de Monde. Botanical and Cecconi's also rose, now sitting on two hats. Joining them were Taxi, the Healesville Hotel, Interlude and radii.

Stefano's at Mildura slipped from three hats, and best country restaurant, in last year's edition to two hats.

Falling to one hat, from two, were Hanabishi and Mask of China.

Good Food Guide 2006 winners
â–* RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR Taxi Dining Room

â–* COUNTRY RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR Healesville Hotel

â–* BEST NEW RESTAURANT Ladro

â–* CHEF OF THE YEAR Michael Darmanin, Cafe Di Stasio

â–* YOUNG CHEF OF THE YEAR Tim Saffery, The Court House

â–* WINE LIST OF THE YEAR Langtonâ€™s Restaurant & Wine Bar

â–* SERVICE EXCELLENCE AWARD Chris Crawford, Circa, the Prince

â–* PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARD Robert Castellani, Donovans

â–* OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Specialist butcher Jonathan Gianfreda, Jonathanâ€™s of Collingwood

â–* THREE-HAT RESTAURANTS Circa, the Prince; Flower Drum; Pearl; Vue de monde"