Manchester Food and Drink Festival

October 1-12, 2009

Gala dinner and awards, October 12, 2009

 

The Manchester Food and Drink Festival award winners were announced last night (Monday, October 12) with a glitzy award ceremony, hosted by Northern charmers The Hairy Bikers.

 Set at the Palace Hotel, the ballroom was full of glamorous guests from the food industry, as well as food and drink lovers.

 Si King and Dave Myers, otherwise known as the Hairy Bikers, said of the evening: “We dusted down the dinner suits and what a great night we had. It is wonderful to realise what a wealth of food treasure we have in the North West. The food festival has been one of the best - we can't wait for next year! Good on yer Manchester!” 

 

The award winners of the Manchester Food and Drink Festival 2009 Awards are as follows:

Best Food and Drink Retail Outlet
Barbakan Delicatessen, Chorlton

 Best Wine List
Gaucho Manchester

Best Coffee Bar/ Casual Dining
Folk Café Bar, West Didsbury

MFDF Award for Healthy and Sustainable Eating sponsored by Food Futures
Gabriel’s Kitchen, Manchester

Best Family Friendly Venue
Dough Pizza Kitchen

 Best Pub
Lass O’Gowrie, Manchester

 Best Bar
Apotheca, Manchester

 Best Newcomer
Damson, Heaton Moor

Restaurant of the Year
The Modern, Manchester

Chef of The Year
Ian Matfin, Abode Manchester

Outstanding Achievement Award
George Bergier, head sommelier at Sam’s and Tom’s Chophouses, Manchester

 Investment in Skills Awards

·      Professional Bartender Of The Year

Tom Lloyd, Obsidian

·      Manchester Young Chef Of The Year

Michael Tate, Harvey Nichols

 ·      Manchester Young Waiter Of The Year

Matthew Dutson, River Restaurant at The Lowry Hotel

 Cocktail of the Year award
Alex Johnson, Hula

Love Food Hate Waste Award
Mason Arms, Atherton

Producer of the Year Award, judged by Clarissa Dickson Wright
Mrs Kirkham’s Cheese

MFDF Cheese Challenge Winner
Garstang Blue by Dewlay Cheesemakers  

Best Beer Brewed in Manchester, judged by panel at the Greater Manchester Real Ale Festival
Dobber by Marble Brewer

Photos by Jon Shackleton
http://www.tdmphotography.co.uk/

(download)

Chocolate Day and Dine Marquee, Albert Square, Thurs, October 8

Yes it was a sunny day! A tent full of Manchester's best food outlets, plus chocolate beer from The Chocolate Cafe on Deansgate and ice cream from Mrs Dowson's Farm in Clayton-le-Dale. It was a good day.

Pictured L-R are:

Chinese food stall
Chocolate beer - yes really.
Noodles and South East Asian delicacies from Tampopo
Just to prove it was a sunny day!
Stephen from the Chocolate Cafe, with chocolate pizza
Paul Morris, owner of the Chocolate Cafe, with their chocolate beer
Gaucho Grill cooking up their juicy steaks.

(download)