1^st Annual Customer Awards

 Tuesday night the Port City’s glitterati stepped from their limos and tripped lightly up the red carpet, filling Opera Bistro to standing-room only capacity.  The Occasion?  The celebration of the much-anticipated First Annual Opera Oscar Awards!  Principal among the press of gourmands and gourmets vying for their own little splash limelight were, of course, the nominees in several categories for the coveted ‘Opera’ (including The Dishiest Dresser, the “Breeders Digest Award,” and, of course, the always popular ‘Dining Out at Your Desk’ Award).  High among the evening’s smorgasbord of fashionable and defining moments was the presentation of the ‘Opera’ for “The Social Maven for whom Opera’s a Haven” Award, which went to an astonished Elizabeth Weir who, upon stepping from the dais with her award now safely in hand, kicked off a vigorous campaign for the 2009 ‘Maven.’   

The Opera Oscars was an evening brimming over with glitz and glamour, well-cut tuxedos and sequined cleavage galore!  Some of Saint John’s most notable families including the Crosbys, the Irvings, and the Mackays rubbed shoulders with la Crème de la crème of Saint John’s diners. Numbered among the evening’s luminaries were Mayor Norm McFarlane and wife Cynthia, Deputy Mayor Michelle Hooton with husband Ralph, along with several councilors, including Chris Titus, Glen Tait and Carl White. Guests feasted from Axel’s menu featuring Hollywood-style delights such as Pumpernickel with Blue cheese Cashew, Pesto, Risotto spring rolls, Oysters, Ginger Shrimp Skewers, curry chicken bites,  The delectable Andrea Paddock, a grade 12 student from Rothesay Netherwood School, accompanied by percussionist Richard Kidd, melted hearts with her soothing and velvety voice.   Later, singer Daniel Matto, captivated the crowd with his appetizing renditions of Jazz Classics.  Daniel, hailing from ‘Down Under,’ went over very well indeed. 

The categories and winners were as follows: 

1.  The Guzzling-over-Gobbling Award:  Why gobble whenthere's room to guzzle? Craig Pinhey

2.  The Dishiest Dresser Award:  Male  Horge Sbarbati

3.  The Dishiest Dresser Award:  Female  Bridget McGale

4.  The Menu-most-traveled Award:  most consumption of any item – will try anything or everything! Chip Whelly

 5.  There's 'Gold in The Same Old, Same Old' Award:  for the customer who always orders the menu      item(s)  Dr. Fitzpatrick, Dr. Craft (tie)

6.  Best New Event at Opera Award: Couture SJ

7.  The 'Company whose Company We Most Like to Keep' Award: for the business that brings in the     most dough Wyndham Worldwide

8.  The 'I'll Make Time for Any New Wine' Award: for the customer most anxious to sample the newest      grape on the menu  Dr. Terry Murphy

9.   The 'Breeder's Digest' Award:  for the Loving Pair that most obviously care for each other in public        Dr. Don and Jan Lalonde

10.       The Sugary Fork Award:  for the customer for whom the main course constitutes a detour on the road to dessert Ed Farren

11.  The Dining out at your Desk Award:  for the customer who orders out the most       Telegraph Journal

12.    The Java Junkie Award:  for our biggest coffee addict  Debbie Fournier

13.    The Word of Mouth Award:  the customer who sings our praises the loudest Jack and  Suzanne Irving

14.  The ‘Side-by-Side’ Dish Award:  for the friendliest of our neighbours happinez wine bar, +        Mahogany Manor (tie)