Overview
After taking two years off, the Chapel Street Precinct Association has decided to bring back its Chapel Champion Awards for 2024, which sees the public vote for their favourite local businesses across a range of categories.
But these awards don't just give the winners ultimate bragging rights. The winner of each of the 16 categories also receives a cash and marketing package to the value of a cool $5000.
Leonard's House of Love
The big hospo gongs — for best cafe, bar and restaurant — will be hotly fought over by big and small names in the game, but we've got our eyes on the brand-new top toastie award, which has seen a bunch of venues creating new eats just for the occasion. They've been tasked with making "out-of-the-box toasties that have the X-factor to make people travel from all over Melbourne and possibly Australia to try them out". And by the looks of it, this going to be a hard-fought fight.
Windsor cafe Delilah has created an unbelievably spicy tiger bread toastie stacked with chorizo, chimichurri and chilli sauce featuring Carolina Reaper chillies — the second hottest chilli in the world. You've also got Naughty Nancy's Toasted Yorkie, which is basically a whole chicken roast dinner wrapped in a huge Yorkshire pudding and drizzled in gravy because why not, tbh.
Entrecote
Entrecote has also joined the race by turning its famous steak frites into a baguette toastie, while Kaneffi has made a dessert toastie which sees a croissant stuffed with kaneffi cheese and topped with pistachio sauce, melted chocolate and gold flakes.
Caffe e Cucina, Neptune, Rossi Bar, Norman South Yarra, Acai Brothers Prahran, Lasagna Lab, Reverie Cafe, Rustica, Kookaburra's Canteen, OPPEN Cafe and Abacus have also made their own unique toasties that could see them win that $5000 prize.
Abacus
If you've got a favourite local business that you'd like to win an award, be sure to vote online during the first round before 12pm on Wednesday, July 10. Public voting for the finalists in each category then opens on Friday, July 12 and closes at 12pm on Friday, July 26.
"We're ecstatic to announce the highly anticipated return of the Chapel Champion Awards to crown the best businesses our iconic strip has on offer," said Chapel Street Precinct Association General Manager Matt Lanigan. "Unlike the soulless shopping centres that litter Australia, Chapel Street prides itself on its individuality and unique assortment of businesses, many of which you can't find anywhere else in the country.
"This makes crowning a select few as Chapel Champions so challenging, and with more than 100 new businesses launching since the 2022 awards, this year's competition is expected to be the biggest challenge yet."
Windsor Wine Room
The full list of categories includes:
- Best Toasted Sandwich
- Hair and Beauty
- Stay and Accommodation
- Cafe
- Restaurant
- Business Service
- Entertainment Venue
- Bar
- Retail
- Art
- Gyms and Fitness
- Health and Wellness
- Fashion
- Hidden Gems
- Customer Service
- Soul of Chapel
Chapel Street Bazaar by Parker Blain.
David's Prahran
Chapel off Chapel
You can vote in the 2024 Chapel Champion Awards via the Chapel Street Precinct Association's website.
Top image: Lamb on Chapel.