SCORE: 18/20

There’s nothing like thoughtful mentorship to coax out latent talent and that’s why we are so thrilled to see the partnership between culinary craftsman Michael Meredith and Georgia van Prehn in action at Mr Morris. Georgia’s star may be ever on the rise but she also has an exceptional grounding having worked internationally at establishments such as Silo in London and Etta Dining in Melbourne. But it was on Karangahape Road that she cut her teeth businesswise as the young owner-operator of Alta. For two years the restaurant served up imaginative dishes while championing a zero-waste approach to a fiercely loyal clientele. In 2021, we already had our eye on Georgia, naming her as ‘one to watch’, and she has not disappointed. As head chef at Mr Morris she continues to shine within the framework of Kiwi-born fusion food, thinking up creative ways to challenge diners’ perceptions of everyday ingredients. In her hands they become uncommonly good. While Georgia is mindful to retain the classics that have kept this restaurant so popular, she is introducing her own ideas. She shares an open-minded ethos with executive chef Michael and with him nurturing her creativity, we can’t wait to see what’s next.