Information on >
Chester Food & Drink Festival 2009 GALA DINNER & AWARDS

Culinary standards raised at Gala Awards

As part of Chester’s 2009 Food & Drink Festival, the City celebrated the best of the best food and drink from the region on Wednesday April 15 by holding the eighth annual glittering Gala Awards dinner.

The event was held for the second year at Chester Racecourse and marked the climax of the main Festival, whose fringe Festival continues with special offers and meal deals at restaurants across the city.

The sell-out evening began with a cocktail reception courtesy of Bar Lounge and more than 260 guests were treated to a fabulous four course gourmet meal with musical accompaniment.

The spectacular evening was hosted by Simon Nicks and Alina Kavanagh of Marcher Sound.

Chairman of the Chester Food and Drink Festival Stephen Wundke said:
“There’s never been a better time for food and drink in Chester and Cheshire. There have been 20,200 visitors to the Festival over the last three days, a 25% increase from last year. Two years ago 81% of visitors to the Festival said they would return again, 24% having spent more than £20. This year it was 91% who would return, 58% having spent over £20. Those figures equate to an economic impact for the city of almost £2 million pounds.
The weather was fantastic but it was the quality of the produce and our celebrity cooking demos that earn the most credit for the increased attendance. A massive ‘thank you’ to everyone involved in the Festival.
Our vision now is to progress this to become the lifestyle event of the North West within the next 5 years and we have set ourselves the target of 50,000 visiting Chester over Easter. With the help of Cheshire West and Chester Council and Chester Racecourse we think this is achievable. We look forward to continuing our successes next year.”

Both the public and the food and drink industry voted for the award categories, so it was their favourite restaurant, bar, pub, café, hotel, shop and food producers that received a prestigious Food & Drink Festival Award.

The winners of the Awards in the 16 Categories were:

Best Small Restaurant of The Year supported by Chester@ Large went to Joseph Benjamin, Northgate Street, Chester for the second year running. Upstairs at the Grill, Watergate Street, Chester earned Silver and Bronze went to Bollocini, Abbey Green, Chester Runner-up was Village Bistro, Hoole.

Best Large Restaurant of The Year was sponsored by Villeroy & Boch and won by Chez Jules, Northgate Street, Chester. Last year’s winners The Blackhouse Grill, Newgate Street, Chester, won Silver and Bronze was taken by Moules a Go Go, Watergate Street, Chester. Runner-up was Restaurant 1539.

Best Sandwich Bar was sponsored by Visit Chester and Cheshire and was won by Watergate Deli, Watergate Row, Chester. Henri Harbingers, Watergate Street, earned Silver and Number 46, Chester took Bronze.

Best Café/Deli was sponsored by Chester Festivals and was presented to Delikate, Handbridge, by Director of Chester Festivals, Tracy Lynn. Aldente, 5 Five Ashes Rd, Chester took Silver and Deli-vert, Hoole achieved Bronze.

Best Bar was sponsored by Marcher Sound. The winner was Telford’s Warehouse, Canal Basin, Tower Wharf, Chester. Oddfellows, Lower Bridge Street, Chester, took Silver and Cruise, St John Street, Chester won Bronze. The Living Room, St Werburgh Street, Chester was runner-up.

Best Pub was sponsored by Trinity Mirror and went to the Brewery Tap, Lower Bridge Street. The Oak, Kelsall was awarded Silver and The Old Harker’s Arms took Bronze. Gill Lightfoot of The Chester Chronicle presented the award.

Best Cocktail Bartender of the Year was Matthew Jones of The Living Room, taking the title from fellow Living Room bartender, David Sale. The competition was sponsored by Maxxium UK and judged on April 7 at a cocktail evening at Cruise attended by more than 60 people. Matthew received his award from Phil Jones, Executive Director of the Manchester Food & Drink Festival.

Family Friendly Award sponsored by Kids Direct was won by newcomers The Ring O’ Bells.
The Christleton pub took the title from this year’s Silver winners, The Red Lion, Dodleston The Royal Oak of Kelsall, earned Bronze and runner-up was Chez Jules. The award was presented by Anne Benson of the Wirral Food & Drink Festival.

Best Newcomer was sponsored by The Best of Chester and presented by the managing director, Paul Daniels to The Barn, Chester Road, Chester. The Ring O’ Bells was awarded Silver and Bronze went to Convivio, Chester. The Gunnery, Tarvin, was runner-up.

Local Produce Shop of The Year was sponsored by Made in Cheshire. The Hollies, Little Budworth won Gold, The Cheese Shop, Northgate St, took Silver and Edens of Handbridge earned Bronze. Jane Casson of Made in Cheshire presented the award.

Excellence in Customer Care was sponsored by Cheshire West and Chester and won by Moules a Go Go. Mike Jones, leader of CWaC presented the award. Silver was given to Chez Jules and Convivio took Bronze. Runner-up was The Blackhouse Grill.

Best Use of Local Produce in a Menu was sponsored by the Restaurant Association of Chester & Cheshire and presented to Restaurant 1539, at Chester Racecourse. The Royal Oak, Kelsall took Silver and Bronze went to Harvest Store Café of Middlewich.

Best Chester Sausage of the Festival was presented to David Joinson of Chester Market for the third year running. Chester Market picks up the best sausage at the Food and Drink Festival for the fourth year running, after David Joinson’s was again judged the best with a pork and apple sausage. Silver was taken by Ernest Edge Butchers of Handbridge and CS Austin of Northgate Street, Chester took Bronze. The award was presented by Steve Robinson, Chief Executive of sponsors Cheshire West & Chester (CWaC).

Cheese of the Year was judged earlier in the week by an expert judging panel to be Allerdale Goat’s Cheese, made by Carolyn Fairburne at Thornby Moore Dairy, Cumbria. The award was presented by Carole Faulkner of The Cheese Shop, Northgate Street, Chester.
Last year’s winner was Maggie Maxwell, of The Doddington Cheese Company in Northumberland.

Best Interior Design was won by Oddfellows. The Barn took silver and Restaurant 1539 achieved Bronze. The Arkle, Eastgate Street was runner-up.

Outstanding Achievement Award was presented to David Atkinson, Chester Renaissance by last year’s winner, Simon Radley, executive chef at The Chester Grosvenor and Spa.

Chairman of the Festival, Stephen Wundke, said:
“David’s tireless work with Chester Renaissance has played an integral part in making the Chester Food & Drink Festival and Chester itself the success they are today.”

Previous winners have been Tom Fell, of Cheshire Farm Ice Cream, “national treasure” Carole Faulkner of the Cheese Shop in Northgate Street, Jane Casson, of Made in Cheshire, ‘Cheese detective’ Peter Papprill and Mill Hotel owner, Gordon Vickers.

ENDS: 1,121 words

PHOTOS (300dpi plus), PRESS OFFICE & REGULAR UPDATES at
http://www.marketingprojects.co.uk/clientpo/chester-food-drink-festival-2009

Photos of Gala Awards at
http://www.marketingprojects.co.uk/news/chester-food-drink-festival-2009-gala-dinner-awards

Notes:
Menu
Canapés, supplied by Patchwork Pate

Born and Bread bread, Charlie’s Butter

Chicken liver parfait, Willington Farm Rhubarb compote,
supplied by Chester Produce.

Roast rib of Cheshire pork (supplied by William’s of Flint) sea salt crackling, Dabinett cider sauce (cider supplied by Gwynt Y Ddraig) local carrots and spiced apple.

Selection of English cheeses, fruit chutney and Rupert Frazier Worden’s Biscuits,
supplied by Hill’s Fine Foods and Just Desserts.

Coffee and Cheshire Fudge
supplied by Illy Coffee and Utlimate Fudge Outlet at Cheshire Farm Ice Cream.

The cheese plate was provided by The Cheese Shop, Northgate Street, Chester, followed by coffee and tea with petit fours from H N Nuttall of Cheshire.

There were more than 80 food producers at the Taste Festival, some sold out!
For all recipes and more information about other events happening over the Chester Food & Drink Festival, please visit: www.chesterfoodanddrink.com
Chester’s Food and Drink Festival is sponsored by Chester Racecourse and PR consultancy, Marketing Projects.
We would be very grateful for a copy of all features published. Please send to the press contact below. Full credits given.
Press Contacts: Jane Harrad-Roberts Mob: 07785 395705
Phil Brotherhood Mob: 07884 493370
Tel: 01244 330000
MARKETING PROJECTS
Email: info@marketingprojects.co.uk

Image Library