Scottish Restaurant Awards Plates Up Top Food Gongs

Winners of the Fifth Scottish Restaurant Awards Announced. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) February 29, 2012 - After weeks of anticipation, thousands of public votes and many hours of judging discussions, 5pm.co.uk has announced the winners of the fifth Scottish Restaurant Awards. The winners were unveiled last night (Monday 27th February), at a spectacular ceremony hosted by Tam Cowan at the Glasgow Science Centre.

Jointly sponsored by 5pm.co.uk and Business Insider, the awards saw the crème de la crème of the Scottish restaurant industry come together to battle it out for the coveted prizes in the 14 award categories. Winners were spread across the length and breadth of the country with the honours going to new ventures as well as established names and businesses.

In scooping both Scottish Restaurant of the Year and the Most Innovative Restaurant award, Edinburgh's Castle Terrace more than fulfilled the promise shown when they won the Newcomer of the Year award in 2011. The double win at last night's Scottish Restaurant Awards top a triumphant year for chef patron Dominic Jack and the judges think he is poised to achieve a lot more.

For the second year in a row, Cucina at Hotel Missoni has won Best Italian. Scotland has many popular restaurants offering Anglo-Italian pasta and pizza. At Cucina, head chef Mattia Camorani offers the real deal: fresh, seasonal ingredients cooked simply but with an Italian flair that is as bold as Cucina's decor.

Jonathan Trew, food writer and one of the Award's judges commented on the winner of Best Indian Restaurant, Mithas: "The days of flock wallpaper and the post pub curry have been over for a long time but Mithas is trying to take Indian food in Scotland to a new level altogether. By providing high end Indian food, Mithas wants nothing less than to redefine what people expect of an Indian meal in the UK. Also, this is the first time that there hasn't been a Glaswegian Indian restaurant among the finalists. Glasgow undoubtedly has Scotland's most vibrant Indian restaurant scene but could Edinburgh be poised to steal the crown?"

On the winner of Chef of the Year Jeff Bland, Trew adds: "From Perthshire girolles to Mull scallops, Scottish produce is at the heart of Jeff's menus and he's travelled the world telling other people just how good the food we produce in this country is. As well as being an ambassador for Scottish produce, Jeff has done a huge amount in terms of training, teaching and mentoring other chefs who have passed through his kitchens and then gone on to great things. He is a deserved winner.'

Charles Shaw of event sponsors 5pm.co.uk commented: "This year, the awards featured a new category: Best Takeaway Restaurant and this was judged by the same standards as the other restaurant categories. As in the rest of the restaurant business, there is a huge variety of different cuisines on offer in the takeaway sector. However, this year, the good, old traditional chippie won out with the Wee Hurrie in Troon taking the prize. It truly is a king among chippies."

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