IF you're after the best steak or burger at a NSW pub, the state's peak hotel body recommends you look no further than the Hunter.
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Pub awards have poured in for a raft of the region's hoteliers in the Australian Hotels Association's awards announced in Sydney on Tuesday night.
Hotel Jesmond led the way, with its year-old bistro officially home to the best burger and regional chef of year winners.
Owner-licencee Daniel Ferguson said recognition for the pub's transformation was welcome but "a bit scary" given how busy the venue had already become since the restaurant opened last November.
Mr Ferguson said it was recognition for how hard the pub's staff and Mr Thornton, 28, had worked to establish the venue.
"It's a great accolade and [chef Paul Thornton] was deserving of it," he said. "This is his first pub job. We are not known for having a bistro."
Mr Thornton beat out five other Hunter contenders for the chef award including Aaron House (Commonwealth Hotel), Brent Hetherington (Bradford Hotel), Jeff Umbaugh (Gunyah Hotel), Jessica Garnham (Rutherford Hotel), Paul Thornton (Hotel Jesmond) and Rocky Clack (Windsor Castle Hotel).
Mr Ferguson said Mr Thornton had overseen the culinary transformation from having a Chinese restaurant on site three years ago.
He attributed the Jeso Burger's victory to its balance and attention to detail.
"A lot of them were stacked and his is just a really nice burger," Mr Ferguson said. "Simplicity won it for him."
Hunter pubs gained more than 20 nominations in the awards this year.
Rutherford's Bradford Hotel claimed regional hotel of the year and best regional casual dining (northern).
Maitland's Windsor Castle Hotel clinched the best regional TAB venue category, Harrigan's was named best retail liquor outlet, Shortland Hotel was awarded for best draught beer quality and Scone's Thoroughbred Hotel topped best steak.
Sydney Junction Hotel and Gunyah operator Iris Hotel Group also won group hotel operator of the year.
It's not the first time the region has held the steak and burger titles, with The Lucky and Willow Tree's Graze among those representing the region at 2015's awards.
This year's highly commended in the steak category, the Willow Tree Hotel, is also a Hunter hotel.
AHA Newcastle Hunter president Rolly de With said the region's haul reflected the community emphasis his branch's members had.
"Pubs have always existed to serve their local communities, and this is just further proof of our industry's commitment to improving on that model year after year," he said.
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