Welcome to the fifth annual Food Geek Awards! (previous years are here)
As I say every year, these awards are intended to be a bit of fun. Just something a bit different from the ‘Top 10’ lists that most people seem to do.
They’re based purely on my dining experiences in 2016, nothing more.
Best Restaurant Awards
Best Casual Dining Restaurant
3rd: Mr Coopers House & Garden, Manchester
2nd: Ondine, Edinburgh (Review coming soon)
1st: Hispi, Didsbury (Review coming soon)
Best Fine-Dining Restaurant
3rd: Norn, Edinburgh (Review coming soon)
2nd: Timberyard, Edinburgh (Review coming soon)
1st: The Man Behind The Curtain, Leeds
Best 'Gastropub'
5th: The Scran & Scallie, Edinburgh (Review coming soon)
4th: The White Swan, Fence
3rd: Parkers Arms, Newton-in-Bowland
2nd: Freemasons Country Inn, Wiswell
1st: The Hinds Head, Bray
Best 'International Cuisine' Restaurant
5th: Yatai Izakaya, Aberdeen
4th: El Capo, Manchester (Review coming soon)
3rd: Mei Dim, Manchester (Review coming soon)
2nd: Bibimbap Soho, London (Review coming soon)
1st: Mughli, Manchester
Best Value Restaurant
2nd: Mei Dim, Manchester, Manchester (Review coming soon)
1st: Bibimbap Soho, London (Review coming soon)
Best Service
2nd: Parkers Arms, Newton-in-Bowland
1st: The Lord Clyde, Kerridge
Best Tasting Menu
2nd: The Man Behind The Curtain, Leeds
1st: Freemasons Country Inn, Wiswell
Best New Restaurant
2nd: Hispi, Didsbury (Review coming soon)
1st: Norn, Edinburgh (Review coming soon)
Best Restaurant Toilets
Best Restaurant/Overall Dining Experience
3rd: The Hinds Head, Bray
2nd: The Man Behind The Curtain, Leeds
1st: Timberyard, Edinburgh (Review coming soon)
Best Dish Awards
Best Burger (In A Restaurant)
3rd: This Is The Juan (Solita Preston)
2nd: Red Hot Chilli Burger (The Boozy Cow, Aberdeen) (Review coming soon)
1st: Hawksmoor Hamburger (Hawksmoor, Manchester)
Best Cocktail (In A Restaurant)
3rd: Hibiscus G&T (Wahaca, Manchester)
2nd: Mezcalita De Pina (El Capo, Manchester) (Review coming soon)
1st: Vermouth, Olives & Orange (The Man Behind The Curtain, Leeds)
Best Bread
5th: Sourdough (Mr Coopers House & Garden, Manchester)
4th: Brown Bread (St.John, London)
3rd: Bury Black Pudding Focaccia (Nutters, Rochdale)
2nd: Sour Light Rye (Hispi, Didsbury) (Review coming soon)
1st: Rosemary & Sea Salt Brioche (Freemasons Country Inn, Wiswell)
Best Side Dish / Snack
3rd: Potato Skins (Parkers Arms, Newton-in-Bowland)
2nd: Short-rib Macaroni (Hawksmoor, Manchester)
1st: Scotch Egg (Hinds Head, Bray)
Best Tasting Menu: Snack
3rd: Avocado & Chicken Liver Hazelnut Biscuit (The Lord Clyde, Kerridge)
2nd: Sashimi Tuna Pizza (Freemasons Country Inn, Wiswell)
1st: Veal Sweetbread Slider (The Man Behind The Curtain, Leeds)
Best Small Plate (Tapas/Dim Sum etc)
Best Starter
3rd: Smoked eel, parsnip, kale & veal (The White Swan, Fence)
2nd: Spiced Potted Manx Kippers (Parkers Arms, Newton-in-Bowland) (Review coming soon)
1st: Buttermilk Fried Prawns & Kimchee Purée (Mr Coopers House & Garden, Manchester)
Best Main Course
5th: Short-rib French Dip (Hawksmoor, Manchester)
4th: Braised Featherblade, Kale & Parmesan Chips (Hispi, Didsbury) (Review coming soon)
3rd: Whole Filleted Plaice (Hinds Head, Bray)
2nd: Whole Roasted Cauliflower (Parkers Arms, Newton-in-Bowland) (Review coming soon)
1st: Roast Hake, Cumin Pilaf (Parkers Arms, Newton-in-Bowland)
Best Seafood Dish
5th: Sea Bass Ceviche (Ondine, Edinburgh) (Review coming soon)
4th: Whole Filleted Plaice (Hinds Head, Bray)
3rd: Roast Hake, Cumin Pilaf (Parkers Arms, Newton-in-Bowland)
2nd: Native Lobster (Freemasons Country Inn, Wiswell)
1st: Grand Fruits De Mer (Ondine, Edinburgh) (Review coming soon)
Best Tasting Menu Dish: Savoury
5th: Sorrel Posset, Creme Fraiche Sorbet & Sumac Meringue (Grafene, Manchester)
4th: Spider Crab Wonton (The Man Behind The Curtain, Leeds)
3rd: Vensison, beetroot, shallot, kale (Timberyard, Edinburgh) (Review coming soon)
2nd: Native Lobster (Freemasons Country Inn, Wiswell)
1st: ‘Fish & Chips’ (The Man Behind The Curtain, Leeds)
Best Dessert
5th: Lemon Posset (Parkers Arms, Newton-in-Bowland)
4th: Caramelised Cardamom Pears, Tahiti Vanilla Dome (sketch, London)
3rd: Lemon & Yuzu Meringue Tart (Hawksmoor, Manchester)
2nd: Chocolate Mushroom (Provenance, Westhoughton)
1st: Beetroot Parfait (The White Swan, Fence)
Best Tasting Menu Dish: Sweet
3rd: Chocolate (The Lord Clyde, Kerridge)
2nd: Passionfruit Praline Cupcake (The Man Behind The Curtain, Leeds)
1st: Amalfi Lemon (Freemasons Country Inn, Wiswell)
Best Cheese Board/Trolley
3rd: Friends Of Ham, Leeds
2nd: Beer Geek Supper Club (Drunken Butcher, Manchester)
1st: The White Swan, Fence
Best Christmas Dish
3rd: Solita Christmas Burger (Solita, Northern Quarter)
2nd: Roast Pheasant (Parkers Arms, Newton-in-Bowland) (Review coming soon)
1st: Spiced Pork & Pistachio Terrine (Hispi, Didsbury) (Review coming soon)
Best Beer Selection (In A Restaurant)
3rd: Hispi, Didsbury (Review coming soon)
2nd: Norn, Edinburgh (Review coming soon)
1st: Timberyard, Edinburgh (Review coming soon)
Street Food Awards
Best Street Food Dish
3rd: Haggis Donut w/ Irn Bru Chili Jam (Dram & Smoke @ BrewDog AGM)
2nd: Bao Buns (Dim Sum Su @ Leeds International Beer Festival)
1st: Pad Thai (Tikk’s Thai Kitchen @ Magic Rock Tap, Huddersfield)
Best Street Food Burger
3rd: Western Burger (Woody’s BBQ & Burger @ BrewDog AGM)
2nd: Fiery Bull (Whats Your Beef @ Magic Rock Tap, Huddersfield)
1st: Bacon Wonderburger (Almost Famous Wondertruck @ Old Granada Studios)
Best Street Food Pizza
Supper Club Awards
Best Supper Club
1st: Beer Geek Supper Club (Drunken Butcher, Manchester)
Best Supper Club Dish
3rd: Pickled veg salad, roast cauli (Veg Eh, Drunken Butcher, Manchester) (Review coming soon)
2nd: Oxtail & Peral Barley Risotto w/ beeetroot (Red & Rare by Well Hung, Chefs Quarter, Bolton) (Review coming soon)
1st: Lapin a la Gueuze (Beer Geek Supper Club, Drunken Butcher, Manchester)
Worst Of Awards
Worst Dish
Worst Overall Experience
1st: The Dogs, Edinburgh (Review coming soon)
So that’s what I thought of 2016. The ‘coming soon’ reviews should start being posted over the next couple of weeks. Hopefully all up by the end of February at the latest.
Feel free to let me know if you agree/disagree in the comments below…