CityLife

Manchester Food And Drink Festival 2010: Award nominees

MFDF 2010

CityLife is pleased to announce the shortlist for this year’s Manchester Food And Drink Festival, the most prestigious food and drink awards in the region.

>> Tell us your view using the comments facility, below.

The MFDF Awards have provided a benchmark for excellence in the hospitality industries throughout Greater Manchester for many years, and despite the harsh economic climate, this year sees strong contenders across all categories.

So strong were the options for Best Restaurant that an additional, seventh venue has had to be included in the shortlist again this year.

Awards nominations will be posted on the MFDF website (foodanddrinkfestival.com) where they will face a public vote. The results of this poll will then be considered by the judges when making their final decisions, before the winners  are revealed at the MFDF Gala Dinner And Awards ceremony.

Siobhan Hanley, director of the Food and Drink Festival, said: “The nominees for this year’s awards show a strong list of dining and drinking establishments that the region can be proud of. The judges felt this was particularly promising in such tough times. There have a been some exciting new additions to the scene, as well as great new developments at some of the more established venues. We’re looking forward to seeing how the public vote!”

The award for the Best Family Friendly Venue will once again be thrown open entirely to a public vote, leaving the decision in the hands of Greater Manchester’s families.

A new award has been introduced – the  Manchester Community Foodie Award, which recognises some of Greater Manchester’s most valuable and exciting community food projects. The Outstanding Achievement Award will be announced with the other categories at the MFDF Gala Dinner on Monday, October 11, at The Hilton Hotel Manchester.

To vote, go to www.foodanddrinkfestival.com until the end of September.

******************
THE NOMINEES
******************

Restaurant Of The Year
(sponsored by BBC Radio Manchester)
>  Aumbry - Prestwich.
>  Damson - Heaton Moor.
>  Grado - city centre.
>  Harvey Nichols Second Floor Restaurant - city centre.
>  Ramsons - Ramsbottom.
>  Red Chilli - city centre.
>  The River Restaurant - The Lowry Hotel, Salford.

Chef Of The Year
>  David Gale - The Hilton - Manchester.
>  Laurence Tottingham and Mary-Ellen McTague - Aumbry - Prestwich.
>  Oliver Thomas - The Lowry Hotel - Salford.
>  Robert Owen Brown - The Mark Addy - Salford.
>  Steve Midgley - Grado - city centre.
>  Stuart Thompson - Harvey Nichols Second Floor Restaurant - city centre.

Best Newcomer
(sponsored by CityLife)
>  La Mei Zi - city centre.
>  The Mark Addy - Salford.
>  The Red Lion - High Lane - Stockport.
>  Sweet Tooth Cupcakery - Northern Quarter.
>  Thomas Restaurant And Bar - Northern Quarter.
>  Vnam - Rochdale Road.

Best Bar
(sponsored by Metrolink)
>  Black Dog Ballroom - Northern Quarter.
>  Common - Northern Quarter.
>  Electrik - Chorlton.
>  Hula - Northern Quarter.
>  The Modern - city centre.
>  Oddest - Chorlton.

Best Pub
(sponsored by Holland’s Pies)
>  Bar Fringe - Northern Quarter.
>  The Crown Inn - Stockport.
>  Knott Bar - city centre.
>  Marble Arch - Rochdale Road.
>  Pi - Chorlton.
>  The Woodthorpe - Prestwich.

Best Coffee Shop Or Casual Dining Venue
(sponsored by the Manchester Evening News)
>  Barburitto - Piccadilly.
>  The Chocolate Cafe - Ramsbottom. 
>  Katsouris - city centre.
>  Left Bank Cafe Bar - People’s History Museum - Spinningfields.
>  Panchos Burrito - Arndale Centre - city centre.
>  Sculpture Hall Cafe - Manchester Town Hall - city centre.

Best Wine List
(sponsored by Metrolink)
>  Grado - city centre.
>  Harvey Nichols - city centre.
>  Damson - Heaton Moor.
>  Hanging Ditch - city centre.
>  Luso - city centre.
>  White Hart - Saddleworth.

Best Food And Drink Retail Outlet
>  Eighth Day - city centre.
>  POD - Levenshulme.
>  Hickson & Blacks - Chorlton.
>  Unicorn - Northern Quarter.
>  Winos - Oldham.
>  Zest - Smithills - Bolton.

Healthy And Sustainable Eating
(sponsored by Food Futures)
>  Gusto, Didsbury.
>  Isinglass, Urmston.
>  Livebait, city centre.
>  Loch Fyne, Didsbury.
>  Podium, Hilton Hotel, city centre.
>  Eighth Day Cafe, city centre.

Manchester Community Foodie Award 
(sponsored by Forever Manchester)
>  Mustard Tree - Greater Manchester.
>  Nexus Café - Northern Quarter.
>  Incredible Edible - Ramsbottom.
>  Earth Café - Rochdale.
>  Diggle Lane Allotments - Bury.

Manchester Food And Drink Festival will be held from Friday, October 1 until Monday, October 11. See foodanddrinkfestival.com for full details of event. 

What's your view on the nominations? Tell us below...