FINALLY, the 2021 Federation Business School Commerce Ballarat Business Excellence Awards have come to a spectacular conclusion.<\/p>\n
While the category winners were revealed during an online event in early October, the overall Business of the Year victor wasn\u2019t announced until a special gala event held at Civic Hall last Thursday evening.<\/p>\n
Ultimately, and in front of about 400 people, Carboni’s Italian Kitchen was revealed as the big winner.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt feels surreal,\u201d said owner Donatello Pietrantuono. \u201cI wasn\u2019t expecting it. Looking at the calibre of the finalists and the winners I never thought in a million years I\u2019d be on this stage.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m so happy, to be recognised of course, but for all the staff to be recognised at the same time.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, I might be the face of it, but we have 20 employees that push so hard, that stick together and that have got the vision together in the last year-and-a-half.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur motto, our vision, is bring a slice of Italy to Ballarat.\u201d<\/p>\n
What\u2019s even more remarkable about Carboni’s win is that it came in a year, and specifically during a judging period, when one of the restaurant\u2019s biggest drawcards, its vibrant an authentic trattoria-like dining experience, was curtailed due to COVID.<\/p>\n
Yet Mr Pietrantuono said while the pandemic had been challenging, it allowed his restaurant and the people behind it to shine in other ways.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt made us stronger,\u201d he said. \u201cYes, we had a vision, and business plan, and we knew who we were, but it made us stronger in the sense that we had to rethink.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur doors were closed, you couldn\u2019t come to us, so how could we keep bringing that slice of Italy to Ballarat.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe did a cooking show, videos, recipes, newsletters, family meal packs, opening the deli where we featured only what we produced.\u201d<\/p>\n
Commerce Ballarat board chair Hayley Coates agreed Carboni’s was a worthwhile winner and the businesses\u2019 ingenuity had really shone through.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve ordered delivery from Carboni\u2019s a number of times throughout the pandemic, so I think the quality of their offering and the service was still available regardless of whether you could go there in person or not,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Along with the Business of the Year reveal, the evening featured live entertainment by the Piano Bar and Ballarat Lyric Theatre, as well as painting demonstrations from Pinot & Picasso artists.<\/p>\n
Ms Coates said for many in attendance the event was the first major get together after the last wave of lockdowns and restrictions.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is sensational to be back with everyone and the people we haven\u2019t seen for 18 months in person,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you feel the vibe that\u2019s out there tonight, everyone is really excited to be out and able to mingle and celebrate something in a real-life event and not have to be online.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
FINALLY, the 2021 Federation Business School Commerce Ballarat Business Excellence Awards have come to a spectacular conclusion. While the category winners were revealed during an online event in early October, the overall Business of the Year victor wasn\u2019t announced until a special gala event held at Civic Hall last Thursday evening. Ultimately, and in front […]<\/p>\n