Golden Plate award winners announced

They ate more than 750 meals around Victoria but the Golden Plate Awards judging panel has come up with its list of winners for 2013.

At a gala dinner at Geelong's Deakin Waterfront campus last week, Queenscliff's Vue Grand Hotel picked up three awards: regional Victoria's best restaurant, regional Victoria's best chef (Jesse Hughes) and the 2013 State Golden Plate winner.

The best regional cafe award went to Geelong newcomer the French Corner Cafe, and the Avoca Hotel in the Pyrenees was named Victoria's best regional hotel.

Now in its 10th year, the awards celebrate Victoria's regional food and wine industry. The judging panel, led by former Age Good Food Guide co-editor Rita Erlich, has spent the past six months combing the state to decide the winners.