I’m a Celebrity… Whatever… Strictly…Meh… the most gripping competition in town is the 2012 Glasgow Restaurant Awards. Organised by the Glasgow Restaurant Association (GRA) in partnership with Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, the finals take place in the Citizens’ Theatre next Monday. Excitingly, all of the nineteen categories look as though they are going down to the wire.
Finalists
The finalists in the eleven public vote categories were announced some time ago but those competing for the eight trade awards have only just been announced. Including prizes for Best Kitchen Porter, Best Use of Social Media and Greenest Restaurant, these awards have been open specifically to the restaurant trade.
In total, 15 restaurants made the final three in each of the trade categories after careful consideration from the awards committee – a panel of high-profile figures from the food and hospitality sectors. Finalists include Glasgow institutions such as Chardon d’Or as well as Scottish favourites, Arisaig and The Pipers’ Tryst.
This year, the awards are also on the search for Aspiring Front of House Manager and Young Apprentice Chef. In order to select the lucky three finalists for each award, a series of heats were recently held at City of Glasgow College.
Cook off
The young chefs were challenged to MasterChef-style cook-off, while the front of house managers were tasked with managing a day’s service at the bustling Scholars restaurant, situated within the college. The skills displayed throughout the heats were exceptional, illustrating the culinary talent the city offers.
Ryan James, chairman of the GRA, commented:
‘Glasgow has such incredible culinary talent, and it is fantastic to see so many in the trade getting involved and showing their support. The restaurant industry accounts for thousands of jobs in Glasgow, and it is important that the city’s talent is recognised and rewarded. It is great to see so many young professionals in the final, who are so passionate about what they do.’
Over the next couple of days, the 5pm blog will be taking a closer look at a couple of the trade awards. In particular, we’ll be asking what makes a restaurant green and what do kitchen porters do?
Special offers
If you would like to see what sort of food is produced in the kitchens which employ Glasgow’s sharpest apprentice chefs or eat in any of the other finalists’ restaurants, then the ones in purple are all 5pm members. Just click on them to browse their menus and see what special offers they have.
This year’s award finalists, as voted by the industry, are as follows (in no particular order):
Best Use of Social Media Sponsored by Glasgow City Marketing Bureau
Greenest Restaurant Sponsored by Zero Waste Scotland
Best Kitchen Porter Sponsored by The Scottish Fishmonger
Ahmed Sharif Al Din – The Sisters
David McNamara – 29 The Grill at the Square
Peter Hynes – The Pipers’ Tryst
Aspiring Front of House Manager Sponsored by City of Glasgow College
Cal Henry – Brian Maule at Chardon D’or
Claire McCulloch – Restaurant at Blythswood Square
Ryan Simmons – Two Fat Ladies at The Buttery
Young Apprentice Chef Sponsored by Unilever Food Solutions
Dawn Rooney – Grill Room at the Square
Morven Gibson – Restaurant at Blythswood Square
Scott Smith – Cail Bruich
Other awards which will be announced on the night include:
- Lifetime Achievement – sponsored by The Cook School Scotland
- Entrepreneurial Spirit of the year – sponsored by Auchentoshan
- Overall best restaurant of the year – sponsored by Inverarity Morton
- Spirit of Glasgow – sponsored by Auchentoshan