A range of North East cuisine from family-made Italian dishes to a Michelin star fine dining will be tempting judges of The Food Awards England this summer.
The national awards body, which is out to celebrate the best of the food industry, has announced that five local eateries have made the finals in the Restaurant of the Year category and another is up for Fine Dining of the Year. A further 21 venues are also shortlisted in various categories, with winners to be announced in June.
On the Restaurant of the Year shortlist are three in Newcastle - Anna Hedworth's Cook House; family-run Italian Mascalzone and Ponteland's Tomahawk Steakhouse - plus there's Träkol, at By The River Brew in Gateshead, and James Close's Michelin winning Raby Hunt Inn & Restaurant in Darlington.
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Also sharing the North East finals category is a restaurant called Solita at Hull Marina. Kenny Atkinson's House of Tides meanwhile is in the Fine Dining category, facing rivals Vice and Virtue, Leeds; Pascal at The Old Vicarage, Burton-on-Trent; L’Enclume, Cumbria; John’s House, Mountsorrel; Midsummer House, Cambridge; Latymer, Bagshot; Moor Hall Restaurant with Rooms, Ormskirk and John’s House, Loughborough.
As well as restaurants, cafes, gastropubs and takeaways, the awards also honour the likes of chefs, servers and suppliers. Other North East favourites have made the shortlist in various categories.. Here is the full line-up of local finalists.
Restaurant of the Year
Tomahawk Steakhouse - Ponteland
Träkol - Gateshead
Raby Hunt Inn & Restaurant - Darlington
Mascalzone - Newcastle
Cook House - Newcastle
Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year
House of Tides - Newcastle
Other North East venues on the shortlist
Cafe /Bistro of the Year
No4 - East Bolden
Station Five Deli - Eaglescliffe
Bistro Citron Vert - Durham
ARLO Bistro & Cafe - Newcastle
Bistro Romano - Sunderland
Gastro Pub of the Year
The Three Horseshoes - Blyth
Best Indian
Cookson Spice - Chester le Street
Vadah - Stockton-on-Tees
Best Italian
Uno Momento - Darlington
La Famiglia - Newcastle
Best Mediterranean
Sol Tapas Restaurant - Darlington
Best World Cuisine
Persian Cottage - Middlesbourgh
Manjaros - Middlesbourgh
Best Mexican
Little Mexico - Hexham
Best Seafood
Riley’s Fish Shack - Tynemouth
Joplins - Middlesbrough
Longsands Fish Kitchen - North Shields
Pizza Restaurant of the Year
Scream for Pizza - Newcastle
Gingerino’s Kitchen - Newcastle
Buffet Restaurant of the Year
Aneesa’s Buffet Restaurant -Newcastle
A spokesman for the awards said: “England offers a wide range of places that serve world cuisines. The finalists were voted for by the public for providing authentic recipes and unique dishes to their diners, creating memorable experiences for both residents and visitors.
“Undoubtedly, there are some amazing specialists around the country, who know how to offer great service, delicious food and meet the expectations of their diners. These are the professionals that we aim to reward."
Event planner Creative Oceanic will host the awards which will welcome food sector professionals from across the country at a black-tie ceremony in Manchester in June. Among the other awards to be announced will be Retail Bakery of the Year and Best World Cuisine. For the full list of awards and the finalists appearing alongside the North East venues on the shortlist see here.
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