Manchester Food and Drink Festival shortlist of nominees for its 2014 award categories has been announced, once again representing the most prestigious food and drink outlets and producers in the region.
The below establishments have been selected for shortlist by the MFDF Judging Panel, made up of the regions leading food and drink critics and experts. Awards nominations will be posted on the MFDF website (www.foodanddrinkfestival.com) where theyll face the public vote.
The public vote is combined with scores from the judging panel obtained via mystery shop visits, made between the announcement date and the Gala Dinner. This year, awards will be presented in 12 categories, including two new awards for Best Street Food, and Best Food Project or Pop Up, added in recognition of the growing market and considerable talent seen in these areas too.
The winners are announced at the MFDF Gala Dinner and Awards on 29 September 2014 at Manchester Town Hall. And the nominations are...
Restaurant of the Year
Aiming to recognise the best dining establishments in Manchester in 2014. This category refers to venues visited primarily for a full dining experience featuring table service, alcohol license etc. Last year's winner was The French.
63 Degrees, 20 Church St, Manchester M4 1PN
Manchester House, Tower 12, 18-22 Bridge Street, Manchester, M3 3BZ
Mr Coopers House and Garden by Simon Rogan, The Midland Hotel, Peter St, Manchester M60 2DS
Aumbry, 2 Church Lane, Manchester, Prestwich M25 1AJ
Australasia, 1 Spinningfield Way, Manchester M3 3AP
Nutters, Edenfield Rd, Rochdale OL12 7TT
Newcomer of the Year
Recognising the best new food and drink operations to open in Greater Manchester since the last awards decision period (July 2013). Last year's winner was The French.
Superstore NQ, G18 Smithfield Building, Tib St, M4 1NB
Manchester House, Tower 12, 18-22 Bridge Street, Manchester, M3 3BZ
Reds True BBQ, Albert Square, 22 Lloyd St, Manchester M2 5WA
Volta, 167 Burton Road, West Didsbury, Manchester, M20 2LN
Mr Coopers House and Garden by Simon Rogan, The Midland Hotel, Peter St, Manchester M60 2DS
Salvis Cucina, 19 John Dalton Street, Manchester, M2 6LE
Chef of the Year
Aiming to recognise the most talented and outstanding work of chefs cooking in Greater Manchester kitchens - his or her skill, menu, commitment and contribution to the dining scene. Last year's winner was Mary-Ellen McTague at Aumbry.
Adam Reid, The French, The Midland Hotel, Peter St, Manchester M60 2DS
Mike Jennings, Grenache, 15 Bridgewater Road, Walkden, Worsley, M28 3JE
Aiden Byrne, Manchester House, Tower 12, 18-22 Bridge Street, Manchester, M3 3BZ
Eric Moreau, 63 Degrees, 20 Church St, Manchester M4 1PN
David Spanner, Australasia, 1 Spinningfield Way, Manchester M3 3AP
David Leong, Yuzu, 39 Faulkner St, Manchester M1 4EE
Pub of the Year
Identifying the finest pubs in the region, focusing on quality and range of ales/beers and atmosphere. Last year's winner was Stalybridge Buffet Bar.
The Marble Arch Inn, 73 Rochdale Rd, Manchester M4 4HY
The Eagle Inn, 18 Collier Street, Salford, M3 7DW
New Oxford, 11 Bexley Square, Salford M3 6DB
The Dockyard, Blue Tower, Media City UK, The Quays, Salford M50 2EQ The The Magnet, 51 Wellington Rd N, Stockport SK4 1HJ
The Rising Sun, 22 Queen Street, Manchester, 52 5HX
Food Pub of the Year
Acknowledging our regions gastro pubs - a chance for pub restaurants to be recognised in their own category. All public houses eligible as long as they consider themselves a food pub, but they are not eligible for shortlisting in both. Last year's winner was Hearth of the Ram.
Eagle and Child, 3 Whalley Rd, Ramsbottom BL0 0DL
Alberts Chop House, Memorial Hall, 14 Albert Square, Manchester, M2 5PF
The Wharf, 6 Slate Wharf, Manchester M15 4ST
The Red Lion High Lane, 112 Buxton Rd, High Lane, Stockport, SK6 8ED
The Parlour, 60 Beech Rd, Manchester M21 9EG
Dukes 92, 18 Castle St, Manchester M3 4LZ
Bar of the Year
Recognising the best drinking venues in the region that arent considered pubs. Last year's winner was Gorilla.
Manchester House, Tower 12, 18-22 Bridge Street, Manchester, M3 3BZ
Kosmonaut, 10 Tariff St, Manchester M1 2FF
Mr Coopers House and Garden by Simon Rogan, The Midland Hotel, Peter St, Manchester M60 2DS
Grand Pacific, The Avenue, ?Spinningfields?, Manchester, ?M3 3AP
Revolucion de Cuba, 11 Peter St, Manchester M2 5QR
Neighborhood, The Avenue, Spinningfields, Manchester M3 3BT
Coffee Bar or Tea Shop of the Year
Recognising the best coffee bars and teashops in the region. Last year's winner was Home Sweet Home.
Fig and Sparrow, 20 Oldham Street, Manchester, M1 1JN
North Tea Power, 36 Tib St, Manchester M4 1LA
Sugar Junction, 60 Tib St, Manchester M4 1LG
Proper Tea, 10 Cateaton St, Manchester M3 1SN
Takk, 6 Tariff St, Manchester M1 2FF
Richmond Tea Rooms, 15 Richmond St, Manchester M1 3HZ
Cheap Eats of the Year
Recognising the best venues that are visited for a high value, casual eating
experience. Judges looking for venues that can offer a good meal for under a tenner! Last year's winner was Trove.
Almost Famous, 2 Great Northern Warehouse, 235 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4EN
Luck, Lust, Liquor and Burn, 100-102 High St, Manchester M4 1HP
Tampopo, 16 Albert Square, Manchester. M2 5PF
Pita Pit, 3 Piccadilly Pl, Manchester M1 3BG
Splendid Sausage Company, Unit C, 11 St James Square, John Dalton Street, M2 6WH
Viet Shack, Unit 8 Arndale Market, 49 High St, Manchester M4 3AH
Best Food and Drink Retailer of the Year
This year the Best Food and Drink Retailer category will be searching the whole region for the best purveyors of food and drink to go and be involving the general public in the process from the off - no shortlist will be announced by the judges. The Festival is asking the people of Greater Manchester once again to provide this shortlist and winner, and help us uncover the best food and drink retailer in the region. Votes can be cast on the Festival website. This year the Festival will announce a winner as well as 2 runners up at the Gala Dinner. Last year's winner was Beermoth.
Best Food and Drink Pop Up Event, Club or Project of the Year new category for 2014
Designed to recognise the ever more pioneering food and drink one off projects, events, activities and pop ups happening in the region. The criteria for this category are fairly broad and the judges will consider special events, markets, pop up bars or restaurants, and dining clubs. Votes for this award can be cast on the Festival website, and the Festival will announce a winner as well as 2 runners up at the Gala Dinner.
Best Street Food of the Year new category for 2014
This year the Festival will recognise one of the Greater Manchester-based street food legends that are gracing our kerbs with an ever increasing plethora of gastro goods. To be eligible for this category businesses must own a street food operation that has been trading for at least 6 months at the time of entry. A judging event for this award will take place at the Festival Hub during MFDF 2014. Businesses dont have to be trading at the Festival Hub to be eligible, but they will need to be able to bring a signature dish to the Square for the judges to taste. Greater Manchesters Best Street Food Winner will be named at the tasting and presented with their award at the MFDF Gala Dinner and Awards. The deadline for this category will be open right up until the start of the Festival and has a separate application form. Businesses must email [email protected] to register. More details to be announced.
The Howard and Ruth Award for Outstanding Achievement
Recognising a person or business who has contributed something outstanding to the food and drink industry in Greater Manchester over the last 16 years. There will be no shortlist for this category and businesses or individuals may not nominate themselves, but are welcome to nominate their peers. For this category suggestions can be emailed [email protected]. Last year's winner was DiStefanno Sancarlo.
The Core Judging Panel:
This years judging panel comprises food experts from across the region
Mark Garner, Manchester Confidential
Jonathan Schofield, Manchester Confidential
Paul Ogden, Manchester Evening News
Dianne Bourne, Manchester Evening News
Neil Sowerby, Freelance Food Writer
Ruth Allan, Taste of Manchester
Thom Hetherington, Holden Media
Simon Binns, City Co.
Emma Sturgess, Freelance Food Writer
Andy Cronshaw, Manchester Evening News
The Manchester Food and Drink Festival is a nationally acclaimed event that will stage its 17th Festival in 2014 and run from 18-29 September 2014. Conceived and developed by Phil Jones in 1998, the event originated as a means of showing the rest of the nation that there was more to Manchester dining than meat pies and gravy! In the 10 festivals that have taken place over that time, the festival has achieved a national status. Over the years the festival has drawn names as diverse as Jamie Oliver, Gordon Ramsay, Fergus Henderson, Michel Roux, John Torode and Bill Wyman. The MFDF awards are recognised as the most important in the region.