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Welcome to the fourth annual Food Geek Awards (previous years are here).
I started these awards to be bit more interesting and concise than posting loads of ‘Top 10’ lists. Most of the awards contain a top three, although there are a few with a top five and a couple with just the winner.
I must confess to being a bit lazier in 2015 than previous years (and busier too with another blog to keep up with). There are many posts I haven’t managed to publish yet, most probably won’t get done now. So, with a couple of exceptions I’ve chosen not to include these in the awards.
Finally, as I say every year, please remember that these awards are just a bit of fun. They’re based purely on my dining experiences – or more accurately, what I remember of my dining experiences – in 2015, nothing more.
Best Restaurant Awards
Best Casual Dining Restaurant
3rd: Solita, Prestwich
2nd: Wahaca, Manchester
1st: Splendid Kitchen, Manchester
Best 'Gastropub'
Best 'International Cuisine' Restaurant
4th: Ibérica, Manchester
3rd: Levanter Fine Foods, Ramsbottom
2nd, Mughli, Manchester
1st: BAO, London
Best Value Restaurant
Best Service
Best Restaurant/Overall Dining Experience
1st: The French, Manchester
Best Dish Awards
Best Burger (In A Restaurant)
2nd: ‘Burger’ (Burger & Lobster, Manchester)
1st: Cow & Chicken Burger (Splendid Kitchen)
Best Cocktail (In A Restaurant)
3rd: Chilli Mojito (George’s Dining Room & Bar, Worsley)
2nd: Passion Fruit Margarita (Wahaca, Manchester)
1st: Mars Bar Eggnog (Solita, Manchester)
Best Bread
1st: Bread & Dripping (Restaurant Story, London)
Best Side Dish / Snack
3rd: Lobster Mac & Cheese (Burger & Lobster, Manchester)
2nd: Aubergine, Wonton Crisp (BAO, London)
1st: Popcorn Cockles (Common, Manchester)
Best Small Plate (Starter/Tapas/Dim Sum)
5th: Frijoles With Chorizo (Wahaca, Manchester)
4th: Tempura Avocado (George’s Dining Room & Bar, Worsley)
3rd: Taiwanese Fried Chicken (BAO, London)
2nd: Cheeseburger Spring Rolls (Solita, Manchester)
1st: Scallop, Cucumber, Dill Ash (Resturant Story, London)
Best Main Course
5th: Roast Suckling Pig (George’s Dining Room & Bar, Worsley)
4th: Fried Chicken Dinner (Splendid Kitchen, Manchester)
3rd: Atun A La Plancha (Levanter Fine Foods, Ramsbottom)
2nd: Kuay Tiew Ped (Siam Smiles, Manchester)
1st: Pheasant Breast with Festive Trimmings, (Parkers Arms, review coming soon)
Best Dessert
Best Cheese Board/Trolley
3rd: Friends Of Ham, Leeds
2nd: The French, Manchester
1st: The Marble Arch, Manchester
Best Beer Selection (In A Restaurant)
3rd: Rudy’s Pizza, Manchester (review coming soon)
2nd: PLY, Manchester
1st: Restaurant Story. London
Street Food Awards
Best Street Food Event
Best Street Food Dish
5th: Haggis Cheese Toastie (Beavertown Tap Room)
4th: Mega Tender Rump (Andy Annat @ Leeds International Beer Festival)
3rd: Pork Wontons (Maiden Taiwan @ Grub WBF)
2nd: Chilli Wurst (Herman ze German @ Maltby St Market)
1st: Guinea Fowl, Chicory, Apple, Chestnuts – (Season’s Eatings @ Grub WBF)
Best Street Food Burger
3rd: Busan Burger (Busan BBQ @ Shebeen Festival)
2nd: Big Wonder (Almost Famous @ Indy Man Beer Fest)
1st: Bleecker Black (Bleecker @ Southbank, London)
Best Street Food Pizza
3rd: Pig Cheek (Honest Crust @ Indy Man Beer Con)
2nd: Wor Margaret (Scream For Pizza @ Leeds International Beer Fest)
1st: Atomica (Honest Cust @ Shebeen Festival)
Supper Club Awards
Best Supper Club
3rd: I liked this before anybody else knew about it (Drunken Butcher)
2nd: The Cheek Of It (Drunken Butcher)
1st: A Venezian Evening Of Cicchetti (Gourmet Gays)
Best Supper Club Cocktail
3rd: Pomegranate Cosmopolitan (Jewish Soul Food)
2nd: Coco Pop & Rare Batch Bourbon Milkshake (I liked this before anyone else knew about it)
1st: DIY G&T (I liked this before anyone else knew about it)
Best Supper Club Snack / Side
3rd: Chopped Liver Choux Buns (Balabusta Delight)
2nd: Fried Olives & Hazelbuts (A Venezian Evening Of Cicchetti)
1st: Brussels Sprouts & Pastrami Bites (Jewish Soul Food)
Best Supper Club Starter
2nd: Cured Duck Prosciutto / Quails Egg, Anchovy & Speck (A Venezian Evening Of Cicchetti)
1st: Pork Cheeks, Mashed Potato Sauce (The Cheek Of It)
Best Supper Club Main Course
3rd: Salt Beef, Falafel Crusted Chicken Goujons (Jewish Soul Food)
2nd: Bone broth with soba noodles & organic vegetables (I liked this before anyone else knew about it)
1st: Chicken Liver Risotto (A Venezian Evening Of Cicchetti)
Best Supper Club Dessert
3rd: Apple & Challah Pudding (Balabusta Delight)
2nd: Lemon Meringue (A Venezian Evening Of Cicchetti)
1st: Cereal Milk Ice Cream (I liked this before anyone else knew about it)
Worst Of Awards
Worst Dish
3rd: St Louis Ribs (The Yorkshire Pit @ Magic Rock Tap)
2nd: Grilled Halloumi (The Ford Madox Brown, Manchester)
1st: Tandoori Chicken Bites (The Ford Madox Brown, Manchester)
Worst Overall Experience
1st: The Ford Madox Brown, Manchester (Review coming soon…. maybe)
So that’s what I thought of 2015. How about you?
Feel free to let me know if you agree/disagree in the comments below…
