Antica Australis achieves global Culinary Tourism award
Antica Australis has achieved first place for ‘Most Innovative Culinary Tourism Business Pivot’ in the global 2020 FoodTrekking Awards, presented by the World Food Travel Association - the world’s leading authority on food and beverage tourism and headquartered in the United States.
This is the first time an Australian tourism & hospitality business has been successful in these global awards, which have been running since 2016 and which to date have awarded over 50 winners.
The inaugural ‘Most Innovative Culinary Tourism Business Pivot’ award category for 2020 recognises businesses and entrepreneurs that have been innovative in the face of the recent global pandemic. The award recognises excellence and innovation, but just as importantly the community impact and strategy of the business pivot in the face of the global pandemic.
“It recognises businesses and entrepreneurs who decided to get creative and find new ways weather this tremendous storm,” says Eric Wolf, Industry Founder & Executive Director of the World Food Travel Association.
Based in a heritage building in the historic village of Carcoar in the Orange food and wine region of New South Wales, Antica Australis is an Italian ‘locanda’ serving up a fusion of traditional Ciociarian dishes with local and seasonal produce sourced from within a 100km radius of Carcoar.
Antica Australis adopted a strategy of being ‘spontaneous, sustainable and adaptable’ to survive the impact of COVID-19. Open for just three weeks in March 2020 before having to close as Australia went into lockdown, owners Paolo & Kelly Picarazzi responded to the crisis with a series of creative takeaway events during the months of lockdown and regional restrictions, as well as collaborative dining events to sustain and propel the business forward once sit-down dining was re-allowed.
They also introduced a revolutionary and unique storytelling format to the Antica Australis dining experience. This consists of presenting set menus at set session times featuring ancient Ciociarian dishes using seasonal, local produce sourced direct from producers and artisans in the greater Orange food and wine region, while augmenting the experience with the Australian local producer and historical Ciociarian stories behind each of the dishes.
Commenting on the receipt of the award, co-owner Kelly Picarazzi said:
“We are most proud of the positive contributions guests of Antica have had on our local community here in the tiny village of Carcoar, with between 50-70% of our guests each weekend now staying overnight to truly soak up the experience of living in an historical Australian village.
“This has not only had a positive impact on local guesthouses and Airbnb rental owners but has also increased visitation to the village and helped keep our local pub, boutique stores and village grocer sustainable during this challenging period.”
Paolo and Kelly now intend to continue the intimate storytelling dining experience format at Antica Australis, developed during the COVID crisis of 2020.
“It has given us the confidence to stick with our original plan for presenting a set menu at set times starring seasonal, local produce for small groups of adventurous diners - who come along with us for a journey to Ciociaria while sitting in a beautiful heritage building in one of Australia’s most charming villages,” said Paolo Picarazzi, co-owner of Antica Australis.
Antica Australis opens on weekends at set dining experience session times on Friday 7pm, Saturday 1pm & 7pm, and Sunday 1pm. Antica is BYO. Bookings by email are essential.
ABOUT ANTICA AUSTRALIS
Bringing a little of the soul of rural Italy to the heart of regional Australia. A Ciociarian slow food locanda in the historic village of Carcoar in the Orange wine region of New South Wales, Australia. An immersive cultural experience of the 'hidden' region of Ciociaria in central Italy through food and stories. Hosted by Paolo & Kelly Picarazzi. Antica Australis operates on a ‘minimal waste’ ethos.
@anticacarcoar
ABOUT WORLD FOOD TRAVEL ASSOCIATION
www.worldfoodtravel.org/2020-awards-winners-announced/
FOODTREKKING AWARDS JUDGING CRITERIA:
The ‘Most Innovative Culinary Tourism Business Pivot’ award recognises both excellence and innovation, but just as importantly measures the community impact and strategy of the business pivot in the face of the global pandemic.
Additionally, it measures:
o Use of local ingredients in menus
o Use of a historic building to become a food lover’s destination
o Creative use of interior and exterior spaces for a unique food & beverage experience
o Innovative marketing campaign for local food and wine promotion
o Making the most out of Instagram as a tool to promote food & beverage tourism
o Making the most out of storytelling for a local food & beverage experience
o Presentation of a truly authentic food and wine experience
o Reduction of waste and minimal packaging for food and beverages
o Best example of using food & beverage experiences to promote intercultural understanding