MANCHESTER Food and Drink Festival announced the winners of the 2014 awards at an elaborate bash in the Town Hall's majestic Grand Hall last night.
The MFDF judging panel is made up of the region’s leading food and drink critics and experts, including four from Confidential.
Last year saw Simon Rogan's The French scoop the double, taking Restaurant of the Year and Newcomer of the Year. Predictably, this year Manchester House stomped to victory, winning three of the evening's biggest awards (a MFDF record), while Manchester House owner and Living Ventures CEO, Tim Bacon, takes the Outstanding Achievement award.
Chefs Aiden Byrne (Manchester House) and Simon Rogan (The French)
Perhaps the evening's only surprise winner was humble Arndale Markets Vietnamese street food traders, Viet Shack, who beat off big-swinging multi-armed operations Almost Famous, Luck, Lust, Liquor and Burn and Tampopo to win the Cheap Eats category.
The MFDF judging panel is made up of the region’s leading food and drink critics and experts (listed at the bottom). The judges visited and scored nominated venues (the various judges assigned to lead on particular categories), these marks were then combined with the online public vote to produce the results.
And the winners are...
Restaurant of the Year Sponsored by Caterer.com
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.
Winner:
Manchester House, Tower 12, 18-22 Bridge Street, Manchester, M3 3BZ
Shortlisted:
63 Degrees, 20 Church St, Manchester M4 1PN
Mr Cooper’s 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
Nutter’s, Edenfield Rd, Rochdale OL12 7TT
LAST YEAR'S WINNER: THE FRENCH AT THE MIDLAND.
Newcomer of the Year Sponsored by Manchester Evening News.
Recognising the best new food and drink operations to open in Greater Manchester since the last awards decision period (July 2013).
Winner:
Manchester House, Tower 12, 18-22 Bridge Street, Manchester, M3 3BZ
Shortlisted:
Superstore NQ, G18 Smithfield Building, Tib St, M4 1NB
Red’s True BBQ, Albert Square, 22 Lloyd St, Manchester M2 5WA
Volta, 167 Burton Road, West Didsbury, Manchester, M20 2LN
Mr Cooper’s House and Garden by Simon Rogan, The Midland Hotel, Peter St, Manchester M60 2DS
Salvi’s Cucina, 19 John Dalton Street, Manchester, M2 6LE
LAST YEAR'S WINNER: THE FRENCH AT THE MIDLAND.
Manchester House scooped three awards
Chef of the Year Sponsored by R. Noone and Sons.
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
Winner:
Adam Reid, The French, The Midland Hotel, Peter St, Manchester M60 2DS
Shortlisted:
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
LAST YEAR'S WINNER: MARY-ELLEN MCTAGUE, AUMBRY.
The French
Pub of the Year Sponsored by Taste of Manchester.com
Identifying the finest pubs in the region, focusing on quality and range of ales/beers and atmosphere
Winner:
The Dockyard, Blue Tower, Media City UK, The Quays, Salford M50 2EQ
Shortlisted:
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 Magnet, 51 Wellington Rd N, Stockport SK4 1HJ
The Rising Sun, 22 Queen Street, Manchester, 52 5HX
LAST YEAR'S WINNER: STALYBRIDGE BUFFET BAR.
Food Pub of the Year sponsored by Salut Wines
Acknowledging our region’s ‘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.
Winner:
Eagle and Child, 3 Whalley Rd, Ramsbottom BL0 0DL
Shortlisted:
The Wharf, 6 Slate Wharf, Manchester M15 4ST
Eagle and Child, 3 Whalley Rd, Ramsbottom BL0 0DL
Albert’s Chop House, Memorial Hall, 14 Albert Square, Manchester, M2 5PF
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
LAST YEAR'S WINNER: HEARTH OF THE RAM.
Bar of the Year Sponsored by Thwaites
Recognising the best drinking venues in the region that aren’t considered ‘pubs’.
Winner:
Manchester House, Tower 12, 18-22 Bridge Street, Manchester, M3 3BZ
Shortlisted:
Kosmonaut, 10 Tariff St, Manchester M1 2FF
Mr Cooper’s 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
Neighbourhood, The Avenue, Spinningfields, Manchester M3 3BT
LAST YEAR'S WINNER: GORILLA
Coffee Bar or Tea Shop of the Year Sponsored by Bitten Magazine
Recognising the best coffee bars and teashops in the region.
Winner:
Richmond Tea Rooms, 15 Richmond St, Manchester M1 3HZ
Shortlisted:
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
LAST YEAR'S WINNER: HOME SWEET HOME.
Richmond Tea Rooms
Cheap Eats of the Year Sponsored by Manchester Confidential.com
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!
Winner:
Viet Shack, Unit 8 Arndale Market, 49 High St, Manchester M4 3AH
Shortlisted:
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
LAST YEAR'S WINNER: TROVE
Viet Shack with Mark Garner
Best Food and Drink Retailer of the Year Sponsored by Magners.
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 – voted by the people of Greater Manchester.
Winner:
Epicerie Ludo, 46 Beech Rd, Chorlton, Manchester, Lancashire M21 9EG
LAST YEAR’S WINNER: BEERMOTH
Best Food and Drink Pop Up Event, Club or Project of the Year – new category for 2014 – Sponsored by Verdure
Designed to recognize the ever more pioneering food and drink one off projects, events, activities and pop ups happening in the region. Voted by the people of Greater Manchester – there was no shortlist for this category, the winner below received the most public votes via the website.
Winner:
Friday Food Fights
Best Street Food of the Year – new category for 2014 – Sponsored by Manchester Metropolitan University.
This year the Festival will recognise one of the street food legends that are gracing kerbs with an ever-increasing plethora of gastro goods. The winners were decided following a tasting session at the Festival Hub on Albert Square.
Winner:
RUNNERS UP:
V Fresh, Manchester
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.
Winner:
Tim Bacon, Living Ventures
LAST YEAR’S WINNER: DISTEFANNO SANCARLO, SAN CARLO.
Tim Bacon and Noddy Holder
The Core Judging Panel:
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, CityCo
Emma Sturgess, Freelance Food Writer
Andy Cronshaw, Manchester Evening News
Photo credits to Carl Sukonik (www.thevain.co.uk)
