The Menu Food and Drink Awards
We are deeply disappointed to be cancelling The Courier Menu Awards that were scheduled to take place this evening.
The wellbeing of our team, guests and partners is of utmost importance, and in line with government advice on the Coronavirus outbreak, it has been decided to cancel this evenings event.
We are currently investigating how we can mark the worthy nomineees and winners of The Menu Awards, and will update on this through The Courier and at www.thecourier.co.uk in due course.
The DC Thomson Media Events team will be working to contact all of the guests and suppliers due to attend.
Key Dates
| 23 Nov 2019 | Entries open |
| 20 Jan 2020 | Entries close |
| 5 Feb 2020 | Finalists announced |
| 12 Mar 2020 | The Event |
Itinerary
| 19:00: | Arrival drinks reception |
| 19:30: | Welcome |
| 19:45: | 5 course gala dinner |
| 22:00: | Awards commence |
| 23:00: | Entertainment/networking |
| 00:00: | Carriages |
Shortlist
-
Chef of the Year
Sponsored By:
- Dean Banks , Haar Restaurant
- Highly Commended Lorna McNee, Restaurant Andrew Fairlie
- Winner Martin Hollis, Old Course Hotel
- Praveen Kumar, Tabla Indian Restaurant
- Scott Hessel, Crieff Hydro
Sponsored By:
Chef of the Year
The Chef of the Year is someone who is dedicated to creating and serving the best food, using seasonal and local ingredients. Above all, we are looking for passion, that magic ingredient that defines true greatness in the kitchen.
Entries should come from all areas of the hospitality business, including hotels, restaurant and pubs.
Entries will be judged on the following criteria:
- Influences and philosophy
- Sourcing
- What you bring to the profession
- Seasonality and sustainability
- A sample menu (please send this to l.taylor@ajl.co.uk)
Shortlist
- Dean Banks
- Lorna McNee
- Winner Martin Hollis
- Praveen Kumar
- Scott Hessel
-
Cocktail and Wine Bar of the Year
Sponsored By:
- Bird & Bear
- Winner Draffens
- Highly Commended The Wine Press
- 3 Session Street
Sponsored By:
Cocktail and Wine Bar of the Year
This category is open to independent or hotel bars. Judges will be looking for a bar with a good ambience and knowledgeable staff who have a strong customer focus. An exciting and varied wine list, expertly made signature cocktails and a good knowledge of spirits are essential.
Entries will be judged by the following criteria:
- Depth of knowledge of drinks served
- Commitment to customer service
- Passion and theatre
- Variety – local specialities and mocktails
Shortlist
- Bird & Bear
- Winner Draffens
- The Wine Press
- 3 Session Street
-
Craft Beer/Cider of the Year
- Winner Lost Orchards Cider
- Law Brewing Company
- Ovenstone 109
- St Andrews Brewing Company
Craft Beer/Cider of the Year
This category is open to any independently owned business that can demonstrate success in the market.
Judges will be looking for a commitment to locally sourced products where possible, sustainable practices and robust processes and a sound marketing strategy.
Entries will be judged on the following criteria:
- Consistent innovation to stay ahead of competitors
- Methods of reaching the target market
- Commitment to local supply chain
- Future plans
Shortlist
- Winner Lost Orchards Cider
- Law Brewing Company
- Ovenstone 109
- St Andrews Brewing Company
-
Craft Distiller of the Year
- Carnoustie Distillery
- Winner Darnley's Gin
Craft Distiller of the Year
Craft Distiller of the Year
This category is open to any independently owned business that can demonstrate success in the market.
Judges will be looking for a commitment to locally sourced products where possible, sustainable practices and robust processes and a sound marketing strategy.
Entries will be judged on the following criteria:
Consistent innovation to stay ahead of competitors
Methods of reaching the target market
Commitment to local supply chain
Future plans
Shortlist
- Carnoustie Distillery
- Winner Darnley's Gin
-
Entrepreneur of the Year
- Alec Cruikshank, Fonab Farm Foods
- Phil Donaldson, Macmerry 300
- Winner Praveen Kumar, Tabla Indian Restaurant
- Hayley Wilkes, WeeCOOK Pies
Entrepreneur of the Year
NEW for 2019. This award is open to any food and drink related businesses based in Courier Country, which have been operating for a minimum of 18 months (as of 1 June 2018). The award recognises a business leader who has shown entrepreneurial focus, strategic planning, innovation, strong leadership and outstanding business performance.
Entrepreneur of the Year is judged by an independent judging panel, made up of key members from the local business community.
Entries will be judged on the following criteria:
- Entrepreneurial flair, demonstrated through determination, perseverance, independent thinking, and an ability to overcome obstacles
- An ability to turn business visions into realities, through a sound strategic plan
- Creates a culture of innovation within the organisation, continually identifying and developing new ideas
- Demonstrates a strong, flexible and forward-thinking leadership of the business and its staff
- Strong business management, with consistent growth and strong financial performance, both top and bottom line
Shortlist
- Alec Cruikshank
- Phil Donaldson
- Winner Praveen Kumar
- Hayley Wilkes
-
Food/Drink Visitor Destination of the Year
Sponsored By:
- Angus Farmers Market
- Winner Bowhouse
- Cairn O Mohr
- The Gin Bothy
Sponsored By:
Food/Drink Visitor Destination of the Year
New for 2019. Entries are welcome from food and drink destinations, experiences or attractions across the region and judges will be looking for a high standard of customer interaction, depth of knowledge of local food and drink, and customer value for money.
Entries will be judged by the following criteria:
- What the destination/experience/attraction offers
- Target audience
- Local links
- Your USP
Shortlist
- Angus Farmers Market
- Winner Bowhouse
- Cairn O Mohr
- The Gin Bothy
-
Independent Coffee Shop of the Year
- AliBob Cafe
- Sweet Pea Cafe
- The Post House
- Highly Commended The Whistle Stop
- Winner Wee Bear Cafe
Independent Coffee Shop of the Year
The judges will look for the independent coffee shop that is best able to create an outstanding customer experience — a warm welcome, high quality coffee and/or tea plus a range of other drinks, tasty food made from fresh, local produce, all served with an excellent level of customer service.
Entries will be judged on the following criteria:
- Ambience
- Offerings (tea/coffee, speciality brews
- Attention to dietary requirements
- Value/affordability
- Customer service
- Accessibility and facilities
- Source of provenance
Shortlist
- AliBob Cafe
- Sweet Pea Cafe
- The Post House
- The Whistle Stop
- Winner Wee Bear Cafe
-
Newcomer of the Year
Sponsored By:
- Highly Commended Crafty Maltsters
- La Sicilyana
- Lost Orchards Cider
- Podberry
- Winner The Kinneuchar Inn
Sponsored By:
Newcomer of the Year
An individual producer, a retailer or food/drink service outlet, new on the food and drink scene since March 2019, displaying excellence in the use of local food and drink products, or a service provider making a significant contribution to the success of the sector.
Judges will be looking for individuals or businesses that have great potential to further contribute to the local food and drink economy or enhance the perception of the regions food and drink.
Entries will be judged on the following criteria:
- Successes to date
- First impressions
- Originality
Shortlist
- Crafty Maltsters
- La Sicilyana
- Lost Orchards Cider
- Podberry
- Winner The Kinneuchar Inn
-
Producer of the Year
Sponsored By:
- Ardross Farm Shop
- Crafty Malsters
- Podberry
- Winner Summer Harvest Oils
Sponsored By:
Producer of the Year
Entries are welcome from producers of fruit, vegetables, eggs, meat or drinks, grown, produced or made from source in Courier Country. Judges are looking for individuals or businesses with the ability and vision to produce and market quality food and drink products in this region. These are growers and producers who are passionate about what they do and who have the talent and skill to grow, develop and market an outstanding and commercially scalable food and drink product.
Entries will be judged on the following criteria:
- Food or drink that is grown or made from source in Courier Country
- Inspiration and evolution
- Commitment to highest production standards
- Marketing and distribution
- Sustainability
Shortlist
- Ardross Farm Shop
- Crafty Malsters
- Podberry
- Winner Summer Harvest Oils
-
Pub of the Year
Sponsored By:
- The Jigger Inn
- The Bankfoot Inn
- Winner The Kirkstyle Inn
- The Pitcairngreen Inn
Sponsored By:
Pub of the Year
Entries are accepted for fantastic pubs /pub restaurants across Courier Country that have created a distinct and high quality offering for their customers.
Common to all finalists will be great standards of customer service, an understanding of the market and a good range and standard of drinks – both alcoholic and non-alcoholic.
The Pub of the Year shall also have a character and charm that makes a visit enjoyable and memorable.
Entries will be judged on the following criteria:
- The style of your food offerings (pub grub/gastro pub etc.)
- Price point
- Your vibe (family friendly/pet friendly/outdoor seating etc.)
- Wines and speciality beers/local drinks suppliers
Shortlist
- The Jigger Inn
- The Bankfoot Inn
- Winner The Kirkstyle Inn
- The Pitcairngreen Inn
-
Restaurant of the Year
- Cromwell Kitchen
- Highly Commended Little's
- Moor of Rannoch Restaurant
- Winner The Kinneuchar Inn
- The Tayberry
Restaurant of the Year
This venue should be the very best of Scottish hospitality and cuisine; displaying the use of fresh and local ingredients with flair, imagination and expertise. Diners will not hesitate to travel many miles for this dining experience.
Entries will be judged on the following criteria:
- An exciting and innovative menu
- Emphasis on local produce
- Curation of wines and other drinks
- Décor and ambience
- Customer service
- Knowledgeability of waiting staff
Shortlist
- Cromwell Kitchen
- Little's
- Moor of Rannoch Restaurant
- Winner The Kinneuchar Inn
- The Tayberry
-
Street Vendor of the Year
- Winner Mezzaluna
- Relish It
- SimplyFlo
- Wild Fire Pizza
Street Vendor of the Year
Good food on the go has become an important part of modern living and, as such, the demand for street food and impromptu pop-ups has never been greater. The judges will be looking for someone who’s bringing something unique to the table.
Entries will be judged on the following criteria:
- Your USP
- Use of local produce
- Visitor experience
Shortlist
- Winner Mezzaluna
- Relish It
- SimplyFlo
- Wild Fire Pizza
The Judges
-
Graham Huband
Deputy Editor The Courier
-
Gillian Lord
Features Editor, The Courier
-
Martha Bryce
Director, Sound Bite PR
-
Murray Chalmers
The Courier Restaurant Reviewer
-
Jamie Scott
Head Chef, The Newport
-
Owen Hazel
Co Owner, Jannettas Gelateria
The Chefs
-
Graham Paulley
Head Chef Apex City Quay Hotel & Spa
Visit Website -
Martin Hollis
Executive Chef Old Course Resort
Visit Website -
Praveen Kumar
Chef, Owner Tabla Restaurant
Visit Website -
Paul Newman
Chef-Patron, Thyme at Errichel Restaurant
Visit Website
Sponsors and Partners
SteamPunk has a wealth of experience in all aspects of shop fitting, bar fit outs, and full service interior refits, we manage your project from the first idea to the satisfactory completion and you can rely on us for close contact service, attention to detail and above all professional and qualified craftsmen dedicated to make you next fit out project as smooth and as safe as possible.
As a joinery and carpentry service first and foremost, we take immense pride in our core skills, and love building a unique solution to fix a problem. We craft an inspiring range of high-grade bespoke items, designed and tested to meet both specific project needs and all the latest legislative fixtures.
Beautiful interior space, functional interior space, safe interior space, those three combined are the desired outcome with every project embarked upon. It is in determining what the required functionality and end goal is for the client that a space, colour, material and lighting design concept and planning can commence.
Over the years SteamPunk have completed many high-end fit outs with some of the most prestigious Hotels, Resorts and five-star Spa facilities in the United Kingdom. A quality product with exquisite finishing ensures SteamPunk are recognised as the highest possible standard within this market.
Visit SteamPunk website
SteamPunk has a wealth of experience in all aspects of shop fitting, bar fit outs, and full service interior refits, we manage your project from the first idea to the satisfactory completion and you can rely on us for close contact service, attention to detail and above all professional and qualified craftsmen dedicated to make you next fit out project as smooth and as safe as possible.
As a joinery and carpentry service first and foremost, we take immense pride in our core skills, and love building a unique solution to fix a problem. We craft an inspiring range of high-grade bespoke items, designed and tested to meet both specific project needs and all the latest legislative fixtures.
Beautiful interior space, functional interior space, safe interior space, those three combined are the desired outcome with every project embarked upon. It is in determining what the required functionality and end goal is for the client that a space, colour, material and lighting design concept and planning can commence.
Over the years SteamPunk have completed many high-end fit outs with some of the most prestigious Hotels, Resorts and five-star Spa facilities in the United Kingdom. A quality product with exquisite finishing ensures SteamPunk are recognised as the highest possible standard within this market.
Visit SteamPunk website
Highland Game supplies premium venison from the Highlands.
Our venison is unique due to its natural origin – it is exclusively selected for the UK market from approved suppliers who meet our stringent demands for excellent quality control and can provide full traceability. The venison is cut and processed to the highest standard in our custom designed processing plant which has 100% Meat Hygiene Inspection, Quality Assured Processor, SQWV, EC approval and BRC accreditation.
Venison is pure and natural, as free range and organic as only wild produce can be – sourced from deer that have been free to graze and roam wild in the Highlands.
Venison is remarkably low in cholesterol and saturated fat. It is a pure meat and completely free from salt and other additives in its natural state. Whilst venison contains all the nutritional values of other meats, the fat content is the lowest of all red meats – HALF that of Lamb, and a Quarter that of Beef. It is exceptionally rich in protein, essential vitamins and minerals, and is a particularly rich source of vitamin B-complex (B-complex vitamins help the body release energy from food, and are involved in functions such as appetite control, vision, healthy skin, a healthy nervous system and red blood cell formation), making it an ideal food source to include in a well-balanced diet.
In fact, venison is so highly nutritious that even when serving a smaller portion that the recommended daily allowance for traditional meats, will provide the same feeling of satisfaction but with higher levels of nutrition.
Highland Game has won several awards:
The Supreme Award 2004, Scottish Food & Drinks Excellence Award
The Best Meat Award 2004, Scottish Food & Drinks Excellence Award
The Best Direct Marketing Award 2005, Scottish Food & Drinks Excellence Award
The Healthy Living Award 2006, Scottish Food & Drinks Excellence Award
The Outstanding Small Business Award in UK 2010, The IGD National Food Industry Awards
The Gold Q Award & The Fresh Meat Award 2010, The National Quality Food Industry Awards
The Success Through partnership Award 2015, Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards
Visit Highland Game websiteAvian, based in a converted church in Broughty Ferry, are one of Scotland’s leading Brand and Graphic Design Consultancies. Our job is to make Brands stand out – look, sound, even taste a little different. More of the same is dull, different is refreshing.
Our work encompasses the entire suite of design disciplines – from brand identity to literature development, packaging, advertising, film and exhibition design. We work across a variety of industry sectors and geographies, and we work with businesses of all sizes. We are proud, and love working with several leading food and drink brands in Scotland, namely Walkers Shortbread, Loch Duart Salmon, Simon Howie Butchers and Verdant Spirits.
We are delighted to sponsor The Menu Food and Drink Awards an initiative that mirrors our own values of innovation and entrepreneurship, and we look forward to meeting many of the locally based producers and purveyors of high quality Food & Drink.’
Visit Avian website
The Tay Cities Deal brings together public, private and voluntary organisations to deliver a smarter and fairer region. Projects will focus on encouraging skills development and progress infrastructure such as roads, rail links, buildings and communications networks across Fife, Dundee, Angus and Perth & Kinross region to create growth more quickly and sustainably using the significant public investment to bring greater prosperity and equality.
Food From Fife brings Fife businesses together to promote and develop the reputation of the sector. Working through Fife Council and the Tay Cities Deal ensures that Fife’s Food & Drink businesses voices are heard and that innovative projects, designed to support the future sustainability and growth of Sector, improve international connections and protect the environment through the roll-out of clean low carbon technologies, are developed.
Visit Tay Cities in partnership with Food from Fife website
Darnley’s Gin is created on a copper pot still called ‘Dorothy’ in a charming East Neuk farm cottage. The family owned distillery champions the London Dry style, which means only 100% natural ingredients are used to make their award-winning range of gin. Visit www.darnleysgin.com to discover more.
Visit Darnley’s Gin website
Founded by Helen Chalmers and Robert Hicks, The Highland Liquor Co. is based in Ullapool on Scotland’s West Highland Coast. It’s currently the UK’s most northwesterly distillery. Their premium gin, Seven Crofts took over 18 months of development and 96 different recipes before finding the perfect balance of forest fruit, spicy hints of coriander and pink peppercorns.
The gin is named after the original seven private dwellings that founded Ullapool in 1791. Those dwellers sought to generate growth by establishing unique crafts and exporting them. Following in their footsteps, the founders, Robert Hicks and Helen Chalmers, have been inspired to create exceptional handmade spirits.
Launched in 2019, Seven Crofts is a classic London dry gin that is already revered by bartenders across the world. You can find Seven Crofts at Atlas bar in Singapore, Ruby in Copenhagen, FAM bar in London, Nauticus in Edinburgh, stores like Harvey Nichols and many others besides. It’s also available online at www.highlandliquorcompany.com.
In 1874 when James Aitken became a wine merchant in Dundee, he could not have imagined how the world of wine would change, or, that over 145 years later the business would still be providing customers with the same dependable Aitken Wines service from WSET trained staff. Aitken’s meet with wine and spirit makers from all over the world to help find the right bottle for their customer, whether it’s a wedding for 200 or a quiet night in for 2!
In 2015, the business used their expertise to establish The Wine Press – a friendly and thriving wine bar in the heart of Dundee’s waterfront regeneration. Now in it’s 5th year, the bar offers an extensive range of wines, local beers, and food as well as the opportunity to use the only Enomatic wine preserving and dispensing equipment in the region.
Visit Aitken Wines websiteThe five star Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa in the birthplace of golf, St Andrews, Fife. This resort includes the world-renowned Kohler Waters Spa and stands within 10 feet of the iconic Old Course links golf course. Its Road Hole Bar can serve a Scotch from any of the 212 active distilleries in Scotland and offers a breakfast buffet second to none with panoramic views. With six dining establishments including the 3 AA Rosette Road Hole Restaurant and cosy pub, The Jigger Inn, there’s plenty of choice when it comes to lunch and dinner.
Visit Old Course Hotel websiteApex Hotels is one of the UK’s leading independent operators of four-star contemporary hotels. Headquartered in Edinburgh, the family-owned group operates 10 hotels in Dundee, London, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Bath. Known for its signature warmer welcome, the Apex City Quay Hotel & Spa is ideally suited for both leisure and business travellers. Situated within the heart of Dundee city, the hotel and spa provides a modern, premium four-star experience, no matter the occasion.
Visit Apex City Quay Hotel and Spa website
