ROKI Collection Queenstown’s signature restaurant, Essence, has been awarded Restaurant of the Year and Three Hats at the 2026 Cuisine Good Food Awards, announced in Auckland on August 24.
The recognition from Cuisine, one of New Zealand’s most respected voices in food and dining marks another significant milestone for ROKI Collection Queenstown.
Essence was awarded Two MICHELIN Stars in the inaugural MICHELIN Guide New Zealand, becoming the country’s only Two Star restaurant. ROKI opened on the shores of Lake Wakatipu in September 2025.
Led by Paul Froggatt, Director of Culinary at ROKI Collection Queenstown, Essence celebrates New Zealand through its extraordinary produce and the people behind it. “We have some of the best produce in the world, and there is such a strong story of local produce here,” said Froggatt. “Our growers, fishermen and farmers are incredibly important to the way we cook. Some of our producers grow just one or two things for us, and that relationship and their passion are part of what makes the food we create possible.”
“My hope is that every guest leaves not only having enjoyed an exceptional meal, but with a genuine connection to this remarkable country.”
The Cuisine Good Food Awards celebrate excellence across New Zealand’s dining landscape, with restaurants independently assessed for the annual Cuisine Good Food Guide. The coveted Hats recognize the restaurants and chefs setting the benchmark for dining across Aotearoa New Zealand.
At Essence, Froggatt presents a contemporary New Zealand dining narrative grounded in the country’s produce and natural rhythms. His refined, produce led approach draws on a career that has included senior culinary roles at some of New Zealand’s most celebrated luxury lodges.
“For me, it always comes back to the cooking,” said Froggatt. “We focus on using the very best ingredients, finding harmony in the flavours and being incredibly consistent. Awards are wonderful recognition, but every day we come back into the kitchen wanting to make the food better.”
