FOR the second year in a row Pelican Rocks Seafood Restaurant and Cafe at Greenwell Point has featured among the awards at the Australia’s best Fish and Chips competition.
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Although the business didn’t secure back-to-back wins in the judges’ decided best fish and chips in NSW, which this year went to Beach Street Seafoods at Forster, Pelican Rocks took out the people’s choice award for NSW.
The Pelican’s team actually turned the tables on the Forster business to take out the people’s choice, which owner Sam Cardow said was a huge thrill.
“Massive,” he said. “So proud, it’s hard to actually put it into words.
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“Winning the judges’ choice last year for NSW was incredible but to win the peoples’ choice this year is very special.
“We had people from all around Australia and world voting for us.
“To be acknowledged by our customers is fantastic.
“And to be among the best of the best fish and chip owners all around Australia is great.
So proud, it’s hard to actually put it into words.To be acknowledged by our customers is fantastic.
- Sam Cardow
“It was good to meet all the other finalists as well.”
The award saw Pelican Rocks go one better than last year when it finished second in the NSW people’s choice fish and chips competition to Terrigal Beach Fish and Chips Co.
Voting for their favourite fish and chips in the people’s choice awards category started in August with Pelicans actually picking up the most votes of any business in the country.
“That was a huge honour,” Mr Cardow said.
“To not only win the NSW count but the nation’s, even though there isn’t an award for that says something.
“Just under 3000 restaurants from around the country entered the competition - we were sitting number one in Australia for most of the voting.”
He said he and his team led the count when the voting went behind close doors with a week of competition remaining.
“We then had to wait about three or four weeks before the eventual winners were announced,” he said.
“They kept us in suspense.”
The judges’ choice best overall fish and chips in Australia was won by WA business Hooked on Middleton Beach.
Mr Cardow paid credit to his team.
“We could not do what we do without our amazing team,” he said.
“They play a massive role - a business is only as good as its team - ours do a great job. An amazing job day in, day out.
“We try and send out the best fresh food we can every day.”
He said the business would again contest the awards next year with the aim of winning Australia's top gong.
“Who knows maybe we will be third time lucky,” he said.
The awards are organised by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation in partnership with state and territory fishing industry councils, with the 2018 awards announced at a gala presentation dinner at Parliament House in Canberra on Monday night.
Predictably, fish and chips was on the menu.
Other local businesses to taste success in the peoples’ choice awards were The Salty Crab Seafood Shack at Vincentia which finished sixth, World Famous Fish N Chips at Huskisson 25th, Werri Beach Fish Shop 51st, Sanctuary Point Seafood 54th, DJs Fish and Chips at Greenwell Point was 70th, Burrill Lake Fish Shop 84th, Zac's Place at Currarong 89th, Grey Dolphins Takeaway at Mollymook 90th, Grevilles Corner Store at Sanctuary Point 95th, Shoalhaven Seafoods in Nowra 108th, The Fish Shop at Burrill Lake 110th, Fisherman's Wharf Seafood at Ulladulla 116th, Jemfish Takeaway at Kiama 141st, Pelican Rocks Restaurant at Greenwell Point 153rd.