Nominations for the Hawke's Bay Hospitality Awards are now open with a new category being introduced this year.
Elephant Hill, a new sponsor for the event, is sponsoring the category, the "Elephant Hill Outstanding Emerging Restaurant."
Elephant Hill's marketing manager Vince Labat said the company was stoked to support emerging restaurants that offered "a fresh and innovative dining experience".
Food Hawke's Bay manager Vicky Rope said the category was set up to acknowledge the "influx of new establishments in Hawke's Bay."
Mrs Rope said the awards gave Hawke's Bay hospitality organisations the chance to recognise each others' achievements.