Six Northern Ireland restaurants are in the running for a top prize at the Asian Restaurant Awards 2023.
Belfast's Himalyan, NU Delhi, Tale of Spice and Yügo along with Mekong and Siam Thai in Derry have all been shortlisted for the prestigious food awards, being held in Manchester at the end of July.
Over 100,000 online votes from members of the spice loving public determined the finalists.
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Judges from the Asian Catering Federation (ACF), which organises the event, are currently visiting the candidates to determine the overall category winners.
The winners will be announced at a glittering gala dinner and presentation ceremony, hosted by BBC news anchor Samantha Simmonds, being held at the Hilton Manchester on Monday 31st July.
The Asian Restaurant Awards cover the complete range of Asian and Oriental cuisines: Bangladeshi, Burmese, Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian, Middle Eastern, Pakistani, Singaporean, Sri Lankan, Thai, Turkish and Vietnamese.
“Vital for thriving high streets and the health of local economies, independent restaurants deserve praise for their fortitude and resilience,” said ACF chairman Yawar Khan, warning: “In the face of rampant food inflation, rising utility bills, raised bank interest rates, staff shortages and customers hit by the cost-of-living crisis, restaurant owners need to compete on quality – not price.”
The Asian Catering Federation (ACF), which represents the nation’s 30,000 Asian and Oriental restaurants organises the only awards open to all Asian cuisines: Bangladeshi, Burmese, Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian, Middle Eastern, Pakistani, Singaporean, Sri Lankan, Thai, Turkish and Vietnamese.
The Awards’ main sponsor is Just Eat, the market-leading online food ordering and delivery platform. The awards are also supported by Booker Wholesale.
The ACF strives to deliver real returns for its members within the Asian catering industry, helping them to find financial success, achieve excellence, and build customer loyalty.
It aims to unite Asian caterers on one platform; campaign for greater recognition; achieve members’ common goals through partnerships with government and other organisations; provide help with training and create rewarding careers in Asian catering.
The sector employs over 100,000 people and contributes more than £5 billion to the UK economy.
Asian food lovers can also nominate their favourite restaurants in this year’s Asian Curry Awards, being held in London in November, using www.asiancurryawards.com/vote.
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