HARD WORK THE KEY INGREDIENT IN EATERY’S SUCCESS
WHEN Daniel Ridegway first opened Little Truffle seven years ago he admits it was a battle to get people to leave Broadbeach and Surfers to visit his Mermaid Beach restaurant.
It’s a battle that has long since been won thanks in part to the many accolades that have been bestowed upon the eatery, the latest of which has seen it named the Queensland Restaurant and Catering Association’s best European Restaurant.
“It’s been a hard, long road,” he said.
“We were classed as a ‘destination restaurant’ ... because we weren’t in one of the hubs.
“As far as how we do it, it’s just constant, constant long hours, striving for perfection and no compromising. It just comes down to consistency.”
The Mermaid Beach eatery was also voted the city’s best fine dining restaurant in 2015 in the Gold Coast Bulletin’s Best of the Gold Coast series, which is voted by locals.
The chef and his wife Ruggie now own seven hospitality businesses on the Gold Coast but Mr Ridgeway says Little Truffle holds a special place in his heart.
The 36-year-old said he was happy how his restaurant had helped to build up a new hospitality culture in Mermaid Beach that competes with the main entertainment precincts.
Among other Gold Coast winners at the industry awards recently were Glass Dining & Lounge Bar at Main Beach, Donto Sapporo Japanese Restaurant at Broadbeach, Loose Moose Tap and Grill House at Broadbeach, Indian Empire at Runaway Bay, California Cantina at Isle of Capri, Shuck at Main Beach and Progressive Catering at Southport.