THERE's still time to vote in this year's Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards - to be announced at a gala dinner held in Manchester Cathedral on Monday 21 September. 

Newcomers Hawksmoor, Iberica and Tariff and Dale are in the running for top accolades

This year, awards will be presented in eleven categories; from Pub Of The Year and Cheap Eats to the most coveted awards for Restaurant Of The Year and Chef Of The Year. 

Newcomers Hawksmoor, Iberica and Tariff and Dale are all in the running for top accolades, while esteemed chefs, such as Aiden Byrne and David Gale, have been shortlisted for the Chef Of The Year award. 

2014's big winner of the Restaurant Of The Year award was Manchester House, while head chef of The French, Adam Reid, snapped up the Chef Of The Year award. 

MFDF 2015 - 7 THINGS NOT TO BE MISSED

The below establishments have been selected for the shortlist by the MFDF Judging Panel.

And the nominations are...

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR

Aiming to recognise the best dining establishments in Manchester in 2015. This category refers to venues visited primarily for a full dining experience featuring table service, alcohol license etc.

Volta - 167 Burton Road, West Didsbury, Manchester, M20 2LN

The French - The Midland Hotel, Peter Street, Manchester, M60 2DS

Hawksmoor – 186 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3WB

Iberica - 14-15 The Avenue Spinningfields, Manchester M3 3HF

Hearth of the Ram - 13 Peel Brow, Ramsbottom, Bury BL0 0AA

Mughli - 30 Wilmslow Road, Manchester, Lancashire M14 5TQ

LAST YEAR'S WINNER:  Manchester House

IbericaIberica

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR 
Recognising the best new food and drink operations to open in Greater Manchester since the last awards decision period.

Hawksmoor – 186 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3WB

Iberica - 14-15 The Avenue Spinningfields, Manchester M3 3HF

Salut Wines - 11 Cooper Street, Manchester M2 2FW

Brassica - 27 Shaw Road, Heaton Moor, Manchester SK4 4AG

Lupo Caffè Italiano - 142 Chapel Street, Salford M3 6AF

Tariff & Dale - 2 Tariff Street, Manchester

LAST YEAR'S WINNER: Manchester House

Tariff and DaleTariff and Dale



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.

Aiden Byrne, Manchester House, Spinningfields, Manchester.

Abdulla Naseem, Hearth of the Ram, Ramsbottom.

David Leong, Yuzu, China Town, Manchester.

Alex Shaw, Volta, Didsbury.

Mike Jennings, Grenache, Walkden.

David Gale, The Lawn Club, Spinniningfields, Manchester.

LAST YEAR'S WINNER: Adam Reid, The French, The Midland Hotel, Manchester.

.Yuzu

PUB OF THE YEAR

Identifying the finest pubs in the region, focusing on quality and range of ales/beers and atmosphere

Bakers Vaults - Market Place, Stockport SK1 1ES

The Baum - 33-37 Toad Lane, Rochdale, Lancashire OL12 0NU

Wigan Central Bar - 1 Queen Street, Arch No. 1, Wigan WN3 4DY

The Marble Arch - 73 Rochdale Road, Manchester M4 4HY

The Harewood Arms - 2 Market St, Broadbottom, Hyde, Cheshire SK14 6AX

The Clarence, 2 Silver Street, Bury BL9 0EX

LAST YEAR'S WINNER: The Dockyard, MediaCityUK

 

FOOD PUB OF THE YEAR 

Acknowledging our region’s ‘gastro pubs’ - a chance for pubs to be recognized for what they’re doing in the kitchen, as a pub dining experience. 

The Marble Arch  - 73 Rochdale Road, Manchester M4 4HY

The Clarence    - 2 Silver Street, Bury BL9 0EX

The Parlour    - 60 Beech Road, Manchester M21 9EG

Sam’s Chop House - Back Pool Fold, Manchester M2 1HN

Shoulder of Mutton - Holcombe Village, Bury, Lancashire, BL8 4LZ

The Angel, 6 Angel Street, Manchester, M4 4BQ

LAST YEAR'S WINNER: Eagle and Child, Ramsbottom

.The Parlour

BAR OF THE YEAR

Recognising the best drinking venues in the region that aren’t considered ‘pubs’.

Volta - 167 Burton Road, West Didsbury, Manchester, M20 2LN

Hawksmoor - 186 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3WB

Wine & Wallop - 97 Lapwing Lane, Manchester M20 6UR

Salut Wines - 11 Cooper Street, Manchester M2 2FW

Cane & Grain - 49 -51 Thomas Street, Manchester M4 1NA

Ply - 26 Lever Street, Manchester M1 1DW

LAST YEAR'S WINNER:  Manchester House

.Volta

COFFEE/TEA SHOP OF THE YEAR

Recognising the best coffee bars and teashops in the region.

Pot Kettle Black - 14, Barton Arcade, Deansgate, Manchester M3 2BW

Grindsmith - 231 - 233 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4EN

North Tea Power - 36 Tib Street, Manchester M4 1LA

Lupo Caffè Italiano - 142 Chapel Street, Salford M3 6AF

Fig & Sparrow – 20 Oldham Street, Manchester M1 1JA

Tea Hive - 53 Manchester Rd, Chorlton Cum Hardy M21 9PW

LAST YEAR'S WINNER: Richmond Tea Rooms, Manchester

 

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.

Crazy Pedro’s - 55–57 Bridge Street, Manchester M3 3BQ

Siam Smiles - 48A George Street, City Centre, Manchester M1 4HF

Filthy Cow - 10 Tib Lane, Manchester M2 4JB

Lily’s - 75-83 Oldham Road, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 7DF

Jasmine - 569 Barlow Moor Road, Manchester M21 8AE

Luck, Lust, Liquor & Burn - 100-102 High Street, Manchester M4 1HP

LAST YEAR'S WINNER:  Viet Shack, Manchester Arndale

Crazy PedrosCrazy Pedros

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 and the winner announced at the MFDF Gala Dinner and Awards on 21 September.

LAST YEAR’S WINNER:  Epicerie Ludo, Chorlton

 

BEST EVENT OR PROJECT

Designed to recognize 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 at the Gala Dinner.

Shebeen

Levenshulme Market

Blackjack Brewtap

Altrincham Market

Moss Cider Project

Real Junk Food Project 

LAST YEAR'S WINNER:  B.Eat Street Manchester

 

BEST STREET FOOD OF THE YEAR

The Festival will recognise one of the 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 an authority registered 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 2015. Businesses don’t 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. MFDF’s 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 alexa@foodanddrinkfestival.com 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 Siobhan@foodanddrinkfestival.com

LAST YEAR’S WINNER:  Tim Bacon, Living Ventures