Cape Lodge voted top 10 in the world for food

Western Australia’s premier small luxury hotel Cape Lodge has once again consolidated its place as one of the world’s finest dining establishments by again making the top 10 in the prestigious annual Conde Nast Traveller magazine Gold List Awards.

The food at the exclusive Margaret River property near Yallingup was rated eighth in the "Best for Food" category of the Gold List 2007, overcoming competition from many of world's most celebrated hotel restaurants.

Cape Lodge also made the Top 10 for food in the Gold List in 2005. The hotel’s fabulous lakeside restaurant is now firmly established as one of the truly great culinary experiences in Australia.

The Gold List represents the magazine's choice of establishments that are best for location, rooms, service, ambience, design, food and leisure facilities. The results are gathered from a reader survey and then collated by magazine judges.

Among the competition luminaries in the 2007 food category was Alaine Ducasse’s restaurant - the category winner - Hostellerie de L’Abbaye de La Celle (France), The Tokyo Ritz-Carlton (Japan), Cellars-Hohenort (South Africa), Taj Mahal Palace & Tower (India) and Gidleigh Park (UK).

Cape Lodge scored an impressive 95 out of 100. The percentage spread between the first place Hostellerie de L’Abbaye de La Celle at 96.72% and the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower in tenth place at 94.75% was one of the tightest in the history of the awards.

The only other Australian hotel listed in the top 10 for food excellence was the Freycinet Lodge in Tasmania, which came in at 9th behind Cape Lodge with a rating of 94.79% Cape Lodge's elevation into the gastronomic stratosphere was very much the work of Western Australian born and raised executive chef Tony Howell.

Tony joined Cape Lodge in 1999 to launch its new restaurant and has now designed his perfect kitchen in the delightful lakeside restaurant, opened in 2004.

He believes in freshness and uncompromisingly fine ingredients, and specializes in contemporary Australian cuisine with a Mediterranean twist.

“The area is abundant with fresh produce – grain-fed beef, superb lamb, seafood caught from our oceans, marron from local dams and fabulous cheeses and organic vegetables," said Mr. Howell. “Hence we have plenty of wonderful produce to work with in the restaurant.” He is over the moon about the repeat recognition from one of the world's most respected travel and hospitality publications.

"We are very honoured to be acknowledged this way and to be positioned among such high quality international competition," he said.

"Our team has worked hard to build the restaurant to a truly world-class standard and to be picked again by Conde Nast is really something special.

"It's fabulous for Cape Lodge, the Margaret River region and our superb regional producers," he said.

Cape Lodge General Manager Drew Bernhardt was equally chuffed about the Gold List rating.

“We are simply delighted,” said Mr Bernhardt. “To be recognised over again in the Gold List Top 10 is not only confirmation that our restaurant is among the best in the world, but is consistently so.

“It’s a tremendous salute to Tony and his staff and we thank the guests and patrons who voted us among the best. We couldn't be happier." Other Accolades for Cape Lodge Cape Lodge was also recognised this week in the 2008 Gold List of the Australian-based Luxury Travel & Style Magazine when the hotel was rated fifth in that publication’s Best Australian Small Boutique Property awards.

The awards are the result of a survey in which the magazine’s subscribers and readers, along with Virtuoso Travellers, were asked to nominate the world’s best hotels, resorts, spas, cruise lines, golf courses, airlines and destinations – a total of 23 categories in all.

Additionally, Cape Lodge was rated in the Top Ten Best places to stay in the Australasia and South Pacific Region in Conde Nast's Reader’s Choice Travel Awards in 2005, 2006 and 2007 The charming boutique hotel has its own vineyard in the majestic wine-growing region of Margaret River. The lovely lakeside restaurant boasts a 14,000-bottle cellar. There are 22 bedrooms and suites at the hotel, a two-bedroom cottage and a private luxury five-bedroom villa in the grounds.

The Cape Dutch-style property features tennis courts, beautiful gardens, wine and gourmet tours, horse riding, fishing and bush eco-tours as a part of the exclusive experience.