The 23rd Lewisham Awards are one of the most anticipated nights in Auckland’s hospitality calendar and often dubbed the ‘Oscars’ of the industry. The Kitchen Project, an Auckland Council initiative supporting early-stage food entrepreneurs, was proud to support three graduates of the programme as they helped cater this year’s event.
Held at the Viaduct Events Centre on Sunday 2 June 2025, the awards drew hundreds of industry professionals to celebrate the people and places shaping the future of food and hospitality in Tāmaki Makaurau. With music, food trucks, cocktails, and a full house of chefs, restaurateurs and tastemakers, the after-party energy was high and the vibe electric.
Among the buzz and celebration, Comfort Bowl, The Cinnamon God and K Bone Kai represented the creativity and hustle at the heart of The Kitchen Project, stepping up to serve the crowd and showcase their growing food ventures. It was a proud moment, and a chance for these rising food businesses to connect with hospitality leaders, suppliers and media while soaking up the energy of the night.
Comfort Bowl, led by Maisan and Spencer Chan, was one of the featured food providers, serving their signature Hong Kong wontons to guests. It was a huge moment for a small business that has quickly become a favourite at food markets around Auckland.
“We were incredibly honoured to be catering the 2025 Lewisham Awards – the ultimate celebration of Auckland’s hospitality industry,” Maisan shared.
“As a graduate of The Kitchen Project by Auckland Council, this moment is more than a milestone, it’s proof that TKP empowers. It opens doors, builds bridges, and offers unmatched opportunities for small food businesses like ours to thrive.
“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to Connie, our amazing Kitchen Project Manager, for your tireless support, wisdom, and kindness. We wouldn’t be here without you.
“We’re also proud to be the only Hong Kong people feeding the crowd this year. Bringing the taste of authentic Hong Kong comfort food to an event that honours those who have spent their lives feeding us.
“Tonight we feed the feeders. With love, flavour, and a whole lot of wontons.”
If you want to get your own comfort bowl of delicious wontons, follow Maisan on Instagram @comfortbowlnz to see which food market they’ll be popping up at next and follow along on their journey.
Also representing The Kitchen Project on the night were two more ready-to-eat businesses.
The Cinnamon God is a legend in baking. Created by Rachel Campion and Niamh O’Dwyer. Their imaginative fan favourite treats are known across Auckland. Their soft, handmade Irish cinnamon buns, including flavours like Biscoff, Nutella, Snickers, Caramel Pecan and Apple Crumble, has developed a loyal following online and at local events.
At the Lewisham Awards, they served up trays of their signature buns to a very happy crowd. Every one was made with love and serious attention to detail, their signature glaze the stuff of cravings. Whether at a weekend market or the biggest night in Auckland hospitality, The Cinnamon God brings comfort and quality to every bite. You can follow and order direct via Instagram @thecinnamongod.
K-Bone Kai is the creation of West Auckland duo Trina and Ralph Pereira, who brought their signature low and slow smoked meats to the Lewisham Awards crowd with mouthwatering brioche sliders filled with brisket and pulled pork.
Born and raised in Samoa, the couple turned their love of backyard cooking into a bold new food venture, inspired by camping trips where the smells of their barbecue would attract fellow campers eager for a bite. With help from The Kitchen Project, they have taken those early sparks of interest and shaped them into a real business, learning everything from food safety and costings to social media and menu development.
Currently offering catering-style meals and one-off event appearances, Trina and Ralph are building K-Bone Kai with a strong sense of family and community. Their long-term dream is a backyard-style eatery where friends and whānau can gather to enjoy hearty Island-style barbecue. The Lewisham Awards was one of their first big industry events, and they made the most of it, showcasing not just great food, but a story full of love, hustle and smoky flavour.
The awards offered a rare chance to network with chefs, venue owners, and decision-makers in a fun, high-energy setting, and reinforced that being part of The Kitchen Project is about more than just what happens in the kitchen. It is about opening doors, building visibility and showing up proudly in the spaces where food decisions are made.
As Connie Clarkson, manager of The Kitchen Project, puts it: “It is amazing to see our alumni businesses not only holding their own, but shining at events like this. We want them to feel seen, to be heard, and to know they belong in the heart of the industry.”
To see the full list of winners, head to Lewisham Awards and soak up all the sparkle from hospitality’s biggest night.
Check out all the photos from the night here.
