A country-made parmigiana emerges above the rest in pub awards night

It was a tightly contested award but one regional Australian hotel has emerged above the others to claim the title of best parmigiana in Victoria.

The 2024 Australian Hotels Association Excellence Awards were dominated by over-achieving pubs, hotels and venues throughout regional and rural Victoria.

But the Middle Hotel in Korumburra, Gippsland was awarded the gong for their $32 chicken parmigiana with thick-cut chips and a garden salad.

The judging was based on a number of criteria including quality of produce, tenderness, appearance, topping to meat ratio, presentation and quality of side dishes.

READ MORE: Chicken parmi and potato scallop: The terms (and foods) Aussies can't decide on

Other country finalists considered for the top parmigiana award were Kyneton's The Albion Hotel, The Bay Hotel Mornington, the Crown Hotel Traralgon, The Drouin Family Hotel, The Grand Central Hotel Cobram, The Grand Hotel Warrandyte and Grand Junction Hotel in Traralgon.

Wangaratta's The Old Town 'N' Country Tavern was also on the shortlist alongside Paradise Valley Hotel in Clematis, Royal Hotel Drouin and Western Hotel in Ballarat.

Three Melbourne pubs were also nominated: The Windsor Alehouse, The Fifth Province in St Kilda and Racecourse Hotel in Malvern East.

READ MORE: AHA excellence awards name NSW's best parmigiana