Published on 31 August 2022
Burger bar claims top honours
Port Noarlunga burger bar Cheffy Chelby’s has picked up two coveted awards at the 2022 SA Restaurant and Catering HOSTPLUS Awards for Excellence.
Presented at a glitzy event at Adelaide Oval last week, Cheffy Chelby’s won the OneMusic Excellence Award, for the way it has elevated music at the venue as a marketing drawcard; and the prestigious Young Achiever of the Year Award to owner Michelle Lowe.
A range of Onkaparinga businesses were also recognised as finalists in the awards, which give restaurants, cafes and caterers well-deserved recognition for their hard work, exceptional food and outstanding service in this vibrant industry.
Congratulations to finalists CJ’s Bakery (Best Patisserie/Bakery/Dessert Bar) in Christies Beach; Port Burger (Best Burger Bar) and Hortas (Best Seafood Restaurant) in Port Noarlunga; McLaren Vale’s d’Arry’s Verandah and Old Noarlunga’s Victor’s Place – Varney Wines (Best Restaurant in a Winery); and Pearl (Apprentice Chef of the Year) in Aldinga Beach.
Onkaparinga Now spoke to Michelle from Cheffy Chelby’s (which won the Best Burger Bar award in 2020) following the wins.
ONKAPARINGA NOW (O NOW): Tell us what it means to you to win these two awards?
MICHELLE: Winning the OneMusic Award was a nice surprise, and recognises that we support the arts, which is something Cheffy Chelby’s is very passionate about. Not only does it feel good to pay royalties to famous legends, we also support a lot of the youth and live music scene in Southern Adelaide.
Winning Young Achiever of The Year is a tremendous honour. I’ve dedicated my life to the industry because I’m so passionate about serving great food and amazing coffee with impeccable customer service. I also enjoy training others to be better than I am at this... so I can have a day off to spend with my family. As a single mum, it has been a huge push and a lot of sacrifices have been made to create this business. I know my daughter is learning from this, which is a beautiful gift to be able to share with her.
O NOW: This isn’t the first award you've won since starting the business in 2020. What have been the keys to your success?
MICHELLE: Consistency and passion. You can only consistently do something that you’re passionate about, and this will ultimately lead to success. Success is not the key to happiness, happiness is the key to success. You can’t fake success, because you can’t genuinely fake happiness.
I also owe it to my awesome staff who have, for whatever length of time within the business, dedicated hours of love and support to the company. Amazing and dedicated staff are the gel that keeps a successful business going. We’re very supportive of one another.
O NOW: The Port Noarlunga precinct has grown considerably in recent years—what do you love about being in business there?
MICHELLE: The vibe in Port Noarlunga is so beautiful. There are people walking their dogs, meeting old friends, meeting for the first time. Exercising, strolling, shopping, holidaying! It’s always so exciting to be here, even in winter when it’s quieter. More chance to chat with the locals!
O NOW: You recently opened up a second location in Morphett Vale—what drove you to do this and what enticed you about this area?
MICHELLE: Morphett Vale is Adelaide’s largest suburb and our new café sits on the outskirts of Lonsdale, one of the largest commercial precincts in the state. It was obvious to open Cheffy Chelby’s here, as our main products are coffee and breakfast burgers. Done fast and to perfection, the tradies in the area will become addicts for sure! We also know there are beautiful walking trails around and would love to promote walking through and grabbing a juice as a healthier option when passing by.
O NOW: You seem to source a lot of your produce from local businesses—why do you think it's important to shop local?
MICHELLE: Local businesses need the support of the public and other small business to survive. While larger chains like McDonalds and KFC or even the supermarket are more convenient and we all use them, there’s just something special about something that has been created with love. With care. It’s nice to be able to support my friends’ businesses as they support us back. We add value to each other’s lives and businesses and it just feels nice. There should be more nice things in life.
Help small businesses recover, assist Onkaparinga’s business community to grow and learn more about what the region has to offer. More information at the Go South Go Local website.