CityLife.co.uk Manchester Food and Drink Awards 2008
TWO newcomers and two veterans of the north west dining scene scooped the major awards at last night’s Citylife.co.uk Manchester Food and Drink Awards 2008 gala dinner at the Palace Hotel.
The glitzy ceremony was held in the extravagant Grand Ballroom, hosted by Channel M’s Gerry McLaughlin and the BBC’s Becky Want, who weren’t fazed by the palatial surroundings and the cream of Manchester’s culinary fraternity.
It was the climax of an amazing 10-day food festival, reckoned to be the largest in Europe.
Michael Caines at Abode won the coveted Restaurant of the Year gong – only eight months after opening their glamorous space in the basement of the former Rossetti Hotel, now Abode, in Piccadilly.
Michael Caines’ name is on the etched glass panels, but the chef in situ is his long-term sidekick from two Michelin-starred Gidleigh Park in Devon, Ian Matfin.
Outstanding opposition
CityLife.co.uk editor Neil Sowerby presenting the award, said it had been a difficult decision against outstanding opposition.
Matfin was also nominated for Chef of the Year but lost out to Abdulla Naseem from Ramsons.
This award capped a great year for Chris Johnson, owner of the Ramsbottom institution which was recently named the 2009 Which? Good Food Guide Restaurant of the Year.
After nearly 25 years running the restaurant (formerly the Village), Chris won Outstanding Contribution of the Decade at last year’s 10th Manchester Food and Drink Festival.
Decadently glamorous
Ebullient thirtysomething Andrew Nutter also counts as a veteran after recently celebrating 10 years running his eponymous Nutters restaurant at Norden, above Rochdale.
He received this year’s more modest Outstanding Contribution special award from co-host Becky Want.
Newcomer of the Year went to Ithaca, the decadently glamorous Japanese fusion restaurant/bar in John Dalton Street, which had also contested the chef and restaurant awards.
Actress Suranne Jones was a special guest for the glittering event, broadcast live on BBC Radio Manchester.
Grow your own
The champagne reception and six-course banquet was true to this year’s festival theme – “Grow Your Own” – with fruit and vegetables sourced from Greater Manchester Allotments. Below is the list of main awards:
Restaurant of the Year sponsored by City Life.co.uk – Michael Caines at Abode
Bar of the Year sponsored by City Life.co.uk – Trof at The Deaf Institute
Pub of the Year sponsored by City Life.co.uk – Arden Arms, Stockport
Coffee Bar and Casual Dining Venue of the Year sponsored by City Life.co.uk – Cup, Northern Quarter
Newcomer of the Year sponsored by The Co-operative Food – Ithaca
Chef of the Year sponsored by Sugarvine – Abdulla Naseem at Ramsons
Family Friendly Restaurant of the Year – Tampopo
Best Food and Drink Retail Outlet sponsored by BBC Radio Manchester – Heroes, Norden, Rochdale
Vegetarian Restaurant of the Year sponsored by The Vegetarian Society – Greens, Didsbury
Best Wine List sponsored by Northern Hospitality Group – Grado
Award for Healthy and Sustainable Eating sponsored by Food Futures – Earth Café
Best Beer Brewed in Greater Manchester - The Alchemist Ale by Pictish Brewery, Rochdale
The People’s Pint (Voted for by the public at the MFDF Ale Festival on 10th and 11th October) - Pavilion Pale Ale by Bank Top Brewery, Bolton
Outstanding Contribution – Andrew Nutter.
MFDF Investment in Skills Awards sponsored by Visit Manchester:
Outstanding Customer Service sponsored by Welcome to Excellence - Andrea Hamer from Abode Hotel, Manchester
Manchester Young Waiter in partnership with Trafford College, sponsored by Regent Recruitment - Henning Gallinat from the Radisson SAS Manchester Airport
Manchester Young Chef sponsored by Regent Recruitment - Adam Smith from Abode Hotel
Do you agree with the choices? Have your say.
Were you at the Food and Drink Awards dinner? Click on the gallery (above) to see if our photographers took your picture.
Published: Mon, 13 October, 2008
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