ON a par with his crowdfunding success (his fourth bistro Wreckfish opens in Liverpool next month), chef patron Gary Usher is now becoming a serial award winner.
His Hispi bistro in Didsbury, still not a year old, has just been named 'Best Newcomer' at the Food & Travel Magazine 2017 Reader Awards, seeing off eight London rivals at their Reader Awards dinner inn Pall Mall.
Usher was understandably delighted: “We’re absolutely chuffed that Hispi has been awarded Newcomer of the Year. To be the only restaurant shortlisted for the award outside of London was an honour in itself and is a credit to what a fantastic job the whole team at Hispi are doing. I couldn’t be more proud.”
This latest success follows all three of his North West establishments – Hispi in Didsbury, Sticky Walnut in Chester, and Burnt Truffle in Heswall – voted in the Top 100 restaurants in the UK by Squaremeal, while Hispi ranked at 54 in the Estrella Damm UK Top 100.
The silverware may be further augmented at the upcoming 2017 Manchester Food and Drink Awards. Hispi is nominated for four awards, including 'Chef of the Year' for Usher protege Richard Sharples (pictured below).
Before then the pair are involved in a unique Manchester Food and Drink Festival collaboration at the ic Mayfield Depot on Thursday, October 5. Hispi Meets The Unabombers showcases their cooking at a music meets food experiment like no other, curated by DJ duo turned restaurateurs, Justin Crawford and Luke Cowdrey,
At this casual ‘Come As You Are’ Banquet in an iconic venue Gary and Richard will prepare a ‘tear and share’ menu, including gin cured sea trout, apple, kohlrabi, fennel and creme fraiche; whole chargrilled leg of lamb and dark chocolate pate; and cratedigger ice cream, hazelnut granola.
The fun will be further fuelled by signature cocktails from the Unabombers’ acclaimed Refuge Bar at The Prinicipal Hotel, but it’s not just about the food and drink
But it’s not just about the food and drink. Expect a banquet where guests spend as much time on their feet dancing as dining, as the Unabombers DJ throughout, with the evening culminating in a typically high octane set from the duo.
The event starts at 7.30pm. Tickets are priced at £55 and are available here.