Best Bites Program
The Mornington Peninsula is widely recognised for its exceptional fresh produce, innovative dining options, and vibrant tourism scene. However, food plays a pivotal role in the local business landscape, spanning across various sectors such as food manufacturing, retail, health, and education.
Mornington Peninsula Shire and Peninsula Health have collaborated to bring you Best Bites, a program that aims to recognize and celebrate outstanding local food businesses. These businesses are recognised for their commitment to food safety, promoting healthy eating, practicing sustainability, and ensuring access and inclusion for all. You can show your support for our local Best Bites businesses by keeping an eye out for venues proudly displaying the Best Bites door sticker, indicating their active participation in the program.
Best Bites Awards
Exciting news! The Best Bites Awards have now been incorporated into the Mornington Peninsula Business Excellence Awards. Nominations are now open for all food businesses to enter and vie for recognition.
Congratulations to all the deserving winners of the 2022 Best Bites Food Awards (see below), who have demonstrated excellence in healthy, accessible and sustainable dining and shown commitment to the highest standards in the local food industry.
Best Bites Food Guide
The Bites Food Guide(PDF, 10MB) connects you with over 100 exceptional local food businesses that prioritise food safety, healthy eating, sustainability and accessibility on the Mornington Peninsula. Please view our local business directory.
2022 Best Bites Food Awards winners
2022 Best Bites Awards
Business Category results
Restaurant
Winners:
- Bronze (joint) – Unica Cucina E Caffe, Capel Sound
- Bronze (joint) – Stumpy Gully Dining, Moorooduc
- Silver – The Kitchen, Bistro, Bar and Courtyard, Tootgarook
- Gold – Foxeys Hangout, Red Hill
Finalists:
- Rosebud RSL, Rosebud
- Rye Hotel, Rye
Café
Winners:
- Bronze – Two to Tango, Somerville
- Silver – Blue Mini Cafe-eatery-emporium-events, Rosebud
- Gold – Commonfolk Coffee Company, Mornington
Finalists:
- Corner Pantry, Somerville
- Elements Eatery, Rosebud
- Miss Moose Tuckshop, Somerville
- Lilo Café, Mornington
Farmgate
- Gold – Mock Red Hill, Red Hill
Takeaway outlets
- Silver – The Hive Loukoumades, Rye
- Gold – Spudalicious, Hastings
Health and education
Winners:
- Bronze – Tyabb Village Children’s Centre, Tyabb
- Silver (joint) - Hastings Childcare and Community Kinder, Hastings
- Silver (joint) - Crib Point Early Learning Centre, Crib Point
Finalists:
- Westernport Childcare Centre & Kindergarten, Hastings
- Rosebud Early Learning, Rosebud
- Toorak Caterer’s, Mount Eliza
- Kidz Shed, Hastings
Retail
Winners:
- Bronze – La Casa Nostra Deli, Rosebud
- Silver – Ritchies Mount Eliza, Mount Eliza
- Gold – Be Fit Food, Mornington
Finalists:
- Mornington Peninsula Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery, Flinders
- Mt Eliza Village Fruits, Mount Eliza
Areas of Excellence category results
Smoke free and alcohol management
Winner:
- The Hidden Kitchen, Tootgarook
Highly Commended:
- Crib Point Early Learning Centre, Crib Point
- Tyabb Village Children’s Centre, Tyabb
Nutrition and healthy eating
Winner:
- Blue Mini Cafe-eatery-emporium-events, Rosebud
Highly Commended:
-
Toorak Caterer’s, Mount Eliza
-
Hastings Childcare and Community Kinder, Hastings
Access and inclusion
Winner:
Highly Commended:
- Tyabb Village Children’s Centre, Tyabb
- Commonfolk Coffee Company, Mornington
Energy and water efficiency
Winner:
Highly Commended:
- Commonfolk Coffee Company (Energy), Mornington
- Tyabb Village Children’s Centre (Water), Tyabb
Waste and recycling
Winner:
- Via Battisti, Mount Martha
Highly Commended:
- Toorak Caterer’s, Mount Eliza
- Lilo Café, Mornington
Who runs the Best Bites program?
The Best Bites program is coordinated by the Best Bites Advisory Committee, consisting of representatives from Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, Peninsula Health, and other relevant organisations with knowledge and experience in the program areas of access and inclusion, nutrition, and sustainability. The committee operates under specific Terms of Reference to ensure effective guidance and decision making. Email us if you’d like to be involved in the committee.
For more information about the Best Bites Program, please contact us.