Published 12:00a.m. 15th July 2008

| By Amy Remeikis

Updated 4:19p.m. 15th July 2008

Erik van Alphen at The French Room in Woombye, which won the best chef/owner restaurant award, as well as the best fine dining award, at the Restaurant and Catering Queensland Hostplus Sunshine Coast Awards for Excellence. Photo: Nicholas Falconer/163683a2

Yesterday was the 219th anniversary of the day the third estate stormed the Bastille.

To the French, it is a day to celebrate their federation. To the rest of us, it is a day to celebrate all things French.

So it is fitting that The French Room took out the best chef/owner restaurant award, as well as the best fine dining award, at last night’s Restaurant and Catering Queensland Hostplus Sunshine Coast Awards for Excellence.

It’s a long title for a night which celebrates the best in all things dining and eating on the Sunshine Coast, and the restaurant which Dutch-born and French-trained chef Erik van Alphen has created in Woombye certainly impressed the judges.

Happily for blushing brides, the Maleny Manor was named caterer of the year, adding to the best wedding caterer award it had already bagged during the night.

Wasabi Sunshine Beach was named the Coast’s restaurant of the year, as well as the best Asian restaurant and best seafood restaurant, rewarding chef Shinichi Maeda for his use of local produce and seafood.

Perennial favourite the Spirit House was named best themed restaurant and best tourism restaurant, and for those looking for something a little more casual, Zachary’s Gourmet Pizza Bar at Noosa was awarded the best pizza restaurant for the third year in a row.

Maleny’s Key Restaurant won the Best Alfresco Dining Restaurant, Hot Pipis is the industry vote for best breakfast and, if you are looking for steak, then Alfie’s Mooo Char and Bar is the place to go.

Rock Salt at Noosa was named the best BYO restaurant and, on the other side of the Coast, Caloundra Cafe Mediterranean won best cafe.

The casual dining award went to the Marble Bar Bistro, Madissons Restaurant and Bar was awarded best entertainment restaurant, and Caloundra RSL won best professional development over 100 staff and the best family establishment for Viva Restaurant.

The event, which is like the Oscars for the restaurant and catering industry, saw 28 awards announced.

The 200-strong crowd read like a who’s who of the Coast restaurant industry.

The Sunshine Coast winners will join those named from far north Queensland, north Queensland, Darling Downs, the Gold Coast and Brisbane awards at the state finals.

The winners from that night will represent Queensland at the national awards later in the year.

Full list of award winners and finalists:

Winner Caterer of the Year – Maleny Manor

Winner Restaurant of the Year – Wasabi Sunshine Beach

Winner Best Alfresco Dining Restaurant: Key Restaurant, Maleny

Finalists: Aromas Noosa; Blue Ginger; Key Bar & Restaurant, Maroochydore; Bella Venezia Restaurant & Bar

Winner Best Asian Restaurant – Wasabi Sunshine Beach

Winner Best Breakfast Restaurant Hot Pipis

Finalist: Aromas Noosa

Winner Best BYO Restaurant – Rock Salt @ Noosa

Finalist: Diabolo's Gourmet Woodfired Pizza

Winner Best Café Restaurant – Caloundra Café Mediterranean

Finalist: Islander Beach Café

Winner Best Casual Dining/Buffet Restaurant – Marble Bar Bistro

Finalist: Seafood Cruise Mooloolaba

Winner Best Chef/Owner Restaurant – The French Room

Finalists: The Naked Italian Restaurant; Maisie's Seafood & Steakhouse; Drovers Dog Bar & Grill

Winner Best Entertainment Restaurant – Madissons Restaurant & Bar

Finalist: Rococo Noosa

Winner Best Event Caterer – Catering by Delicious

Winner Best Family Establishment Restaurant – Caloundra RSL - Viva Restaurant

Finalist: Sandbar Beachfront Bistro

Winner Best Fine Dining Restaurant – The French Room

Finalist: Key Restaurant Maleny; The Wine Bar Restaurant; See Restaurant

Winner Best Function/Convention Centre Caterer – Noosa Springs

Winner Best Indian Restaurant – India Today Tandoori Restaurant, Maroochydore

Finalists: Rangoli Indian Restaurant; Hathi Indian Restaurant; India Today Tandoori Restaurant Caloundra

Winner Best Informal Dining Restaurant – Waterview Bistro

Finalist: Lindoni's Ristorante Italiano; Tides Waterfront Dining; Key Bar & Restaurant Maroochydore; Ma' Mensa

Winner Best Institutional Caterer – Eden on Bribie

Winner Best Italian Restaurant – Lindoni's Ristorante Italiano De Bortoli

Finalists: Ma' Mensa; Il Secondo; Bella Venezia Restaurant & Bar

Winner Best Modern Australian Restaurant – Harvest Restaurant

Finalists: The Wine Bar Restaurant; Platinum Restaurant; Modernprimitive

Winner Best New Restaurant – Modernprimitive

Finalists: Blue Ginger; Il Secondo

Winner Best Pizza Restaurant – Zachary's Gourmet Pizza Bar (Noosa)

Finalist: Diablo’s Gourmet Woodfired Pizza

Winner Best Pub/Tavern/Club Restaurant – Sandbar Beachfront Bistro

Finalists: Peregian Springs Golf Club; Pacific Harbour Golf & Country Club

Winner Best Seafood Restaurant – Wasabi Sunshine Beach

Finalists: La Vida Restaurant; Tides Waterfront Dining; The Terrace of Maleny; Cruise Mooloolaba

Winner Best Steak Restaurant – Alfie's Mooo Char & Bar

Finalist: Maisie’s Steak and Seafood Restaurant

Winner Best Themed Restaurant – Spirit House

Finalists: India Today Tandoori Restaurant, Caloundra

Winner Best Tourism Restaurant – Spirit House

Finalist: Sheraton Noosa Resort & Spa – Cato’s Restaurant

Winner Best Wedding Caterer – Maleny Manor

Finalist: Caloundra Power Boat Club

Winner Professional Development Over 100 Staff – Caloundra RSL