Rutherglen Restaurant Wins First Hat at 2026 Good Food Guide Awards

Strategic Insights -

Erica and Matthieu Miller's restaurant, Grace Bar and Eatery, has made significant changes to its business model after a 14-hour power outage over the summer. The outage, which occurred while the pair were on holiday with their kids, drained fridges and resulted in significant losses. To recover, they made fundamental changes to their business, including adjusting their opening hours and reducing staff. The efforts paid off when the restaurant picked up its first hat at the 2026 Good Food Guide Awards, with Matthieu becoming the first chef from the North East to win a hat. The awards ceremony was an emotional moment for the couple, with Erica highlighting the importance of the Rutherglen community in their success.

Key Takeaways:

  • Erica and Matthieu Miller's restaurant, Grace Bar and Eatery, won its first hat at the 2026 Good Food Guide Awards, with Matthieu becoming the first chef from the North East to win a hat.
  • The restaurant made significant changes to its business model after a 14-hour power outage over the summer, which resulted in significant losses.
  • Changes included adjusting opening hours and reducing staff to improve efficiency and reduce waste.
  • The awards ceremony was a momentous occasion for the couple, with Erica highlighting the importance of the Rutherglen community in their success.
  • Provenance executive chef Michael Ryan was a finalist in Chef of the Year and retained its two-hat rating.
  • Brown Brothers retained its one-hat score.

Statistics:

  • 14 hours: duration of the power outage that affected Rutherglen restaurateurs Erica and Matthieu Miller.
  • $40,000: estimated cost of running a generator to keep fridges running during the power outage.
  • 4 years: length of time Grace Bar and Eatery had been operating before the power outage.
  • 1: number of hats won by Matthieu Miller, the first from the North East region.
  • 5: number of nominees for Service Excellence in this year's Good Food Guide Awards, including Erica Miller.
  • 2013: year Michael Ryan last won the Chef of the Year category.
  • 2026: year of the Good Food Guide Awards ceremony.

Sources:

  • Jodie Bruton, "Erica and Matthieu Miller humbled to bring it home for Rutherglen," no date.
  • 2026 Good Food Guide Awards, no date, judges' announcement.