R&R Café wins South Coast award

Rob and Rowena Lisk of R&R Café in Helensburgh are smiling even wider these days after being named Caterer of the Year in Restaurant and Catering’s South Coast Awards for Excellence.

The catering side of their business also won the Venue Caterer and offsite Wedding Caterer categories. The three-plate trifecta follows nearly eight years of building up the catering business and opening the café in 2003.

“It’s recognition of a lot of hard work,” said Rob who has been known to cater for up to 300 wedding guests at offsite locations where he has had to bring his own industrial kitchen and staff.

Wife Rowena, who sources new business and organises bookings in between looking after three boys under six (including twins!), says the awards will help expand the business.

“We hope to put on more staff,” she said.

Restaurant & Catering is the major association representing the needs of restaurants and caterers in NSW and the ACT. One of its objectives is to recognise best practice in the hospitality industry.

The South Coast Awards included Wollongong and south-west to Bowral, pitting R&R Café against some well-known and well-established caterers.

“It’s a huge endorsement for us and lets us know we’re on the right track,” said Rob. “It also says a lot for what can be achieved in Helensburgh.

“But we couldn’t have done it without our fantastic staff and suppliers, including the Binner family and Helensburgh Butchery who always find the best produce for us. We’re very grateful.”