Illawarra foodie winners at Australian Small Business Champion Awards

This week we celebrate the local foodie winners and some of the finalists from the 2023 Australian Small Business Champion Awards. The region encompassing the Southern Highlands, Shoalhaven and the Illawarra had an impressive selection of foodie-related finalists and two winners in the national awards.

Here is a selection:

Winner – Fresh Food category

Nowra Farmers Market, a food lover's one-stop-shop, took out the Fresh Food category, an impressive effort considering this is a national competition. With a focus on fresh, local and quality produce, bread, milk, dairy, eggs, honey and much more, they set a high bar for sustainable shopping and eating. While you’re there, check out their neighbours, the Nowra Fresh Fish and Meat Market.

Winner – Specialised Retail Small Business category

Mrs Oldbucks Pantry is an institution in Berrima having a 40-year history as a “jam and tea store”. Owner Carol Brown (since 2018) has widened the product range, now stocking a huge range of teas, local coffee, jams and preserves, olive oil, dressings, condiments and sweet delights. Get ahead of the Christmas rush and check out the gift hampers (or make up your own) for that hard-to-buy-for foodie in your life.

Finalist – Butcher category

Helensburgh butchery Christian’s Premium Meats has free-range lamb from Cowra, grass-fed beef from Gippsland, Victoria, a range of gourmet sausages and other delights, such as ready-to-cook pies and sausage rolls. Order online before 12 noon for free next day delivery.

Finalist – Restaurant category

Ambiance Ristorante at Unanderra are homemade “pasta pros”, but the menu is more than just pasta. Their dishes change with the seasons and they have partnered with Tullimbar Community Garden to grow fresh produce to use in their dishes. Follow them on social media for specials and events such as the upcoming degustation evening.

Finalist – Cake shop/patisserie

Choose between Gumnut Patisserie’s three locations in the Southern Highlands (Mittagong, Bowral and Berrima) and live by their mantra “Life’s short, eat dessert first”. You will need to be quick though, because word has spread beyond the locals about the top-quality pastries, ensuring that the shelves are bare within hours of opening.

Special mention to Fairy Meadow’s Pasticceria Massimo Papa, which was also a finalist in this category.