News


	News
	News item 19/11/08 The cream of the region’s Food and Drink industry celebrated excellence at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena on Tuesday 19th November to find out who had won this year’s coveted Coventry & Warwickshire Food and Drink Awards. Now in its seventh year, the overall aim of the popular awards scheme continues to champion and reward quality, excellence and the innovative use of local produce and to encourage all catering and retail outlets within the region to source their supplies locally wherever possible. Around 150 businesses and individuals from across the region attended the awards ceremony to find out which were fortunate enough to scoop an award. Awards were given for ‘Best Restaurant’, ‘Best Dining Pub’, ‘’Best International Restaurant’ ‘Best Breakfast’, ‘Best Coffee House/Tea Shop’, ‘Best Restaurant Café within a Visitor Attraction’, ‘Best Local Food or Drink Producer’, ‘Champion of Local Produce – Retailer’ ‘Champion of Local Produce – Food Service’, ‘Best Food and Drink Experience’ and ‘Excellence in Customer Service and Quality’. Each of the winners were rewarded with a gleaming trophy and certificate and the sought-after title of best in Coventry & Warwickshire for 2008. The 2008 winners are: Hospitality Categories Best Restaurant Chapel House, Atherstone (Winner) www.chapelhouse.eu Malbec Restaurant, Stratford-upon-Avon (Highly Commended) www.malbecrestaurant.co.uk Tailors Restaurant, Warwick (Commended) www.tailorsrestaurant.co.uk Best Dinning Pub/Inn The Bluebell, Henley-in-Arden (Winner) www.bluebellhenley.co.uk The Peacock, Oxhill (Highly Commended) www.thepeacockoxhill.co.uk The Granville @ Barford, Barford (Commended) www.granvillebarford.co.uk Best Breakfast Ashton Lodge Country Hotel & Restaurant, Stretton-under-Fosse, Nr Rugby (Winner) www.ashtonlodgehotel.co.uk Planters Restaurant, Freasley, North Warwickshire (Highly Commended) www.plantersgc.com Glebe Farm, Ashorne (Commended) www.rarebreedsfarm.co.uk Best Coffee House/Tea Shop Mrs Brown’s Tea Room, Shipston-on-Stour (Winner) Greenbean Mobile Coffee Company, Stratford-upon-Avon (Highly Commended) www.greenbeancoffee.co.uk McKechnies Independent Tea and Coffee Bar, Stratford-upon-Avon (Commended) www.mckechnies-cafe.co.uk Best Restaurant / Café within a Visitor Attraction The Restaurant at Garden Organic Ryton, Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Nr Rugby (Winner) www.gardenorganic.org.uk Planters Restaurant, Freasley, North Warwickshire (Highly Commended) www.plantersgc.com Malt Kiln Farm Shop, Stretton-under-Fosse, Nr Rugby (Commended) www.maltkilnfarmshop.co.uk Best International Restaurant Agra Palace, Nuneaton (Joint Winner) www.agrapalace.com The Cellar Restaurant, Warwick (Joint Winner) www.thecellarrestaurantwarwick.co.uk Cardamom Indian Cuisine Restaurant & Takeaway, Alcester (Commended) www.cardamomindiancuisine.com Producer & Retailer Categories Best Local Food or Drink Producer The Soupery, Stoneleigh (Winner) http://www.heff.co.uk/new_producer_detail.aspx?intPCID=10&intPID=538&intContentID=299 Harvest of Arden, Snitterfield, Nr Stratford-upon-Avon (Highly Commended) www.harvestofarden.com 19 Gales Farmhouse Foods, Bentley, Nr Atherstone (Commended) www.19gales.co.uk Champion of Local Produce – Retailer Taste of the Country, Shipston-on-Stour (Winner) www.tasteofthecountry.co.uk Malt Kiln Farm Shop, Stretton-under-Fosse, Nr Rugby (HIghly Commended) www.maltkilnfarmshop.co.uk 19 Gales Farmhouse Foods, Atherstone (Commended) www.19gales.co.uk Judges Commendations Champion of Local Produce – Food Service Ashton Lodge Country Hotel & Restaurant, Stretton-under-Fosse, Nr Rugby (Winner) www.ashtonlodgehotel.co.uk Best Food and Drink Experience Chapel House, Atherstone (Winner) www.chapelhouse.eu Champion of Quality and Customer Service Astrid Le Goff, Malbec Restaurant, Stratford-upon-Avon (Winner) www.malbecrestaurant.co.uk ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- News item 28/10/08 Grilling the competition Catering students in Coventry have been undergoing a grilling at a competition cook-off. Chefs at the Ricoh Arena, host venue for this year’s Coventry & Warwickshire Food and Drink Awards arrived at Henley College, Coventry to judge the culinary skills of NVQ level three professional cookery students. The winning students will be invited to cook their dish at the prestigious awards ceremony for 200 diners which will include critics and guests from the local food industry. Four teams, each with three students, were given a brief that only stated the cost per dish and type of course – students had to design their own menus and then cook their dishes to be judged. All four teams that took part will be invited to the Ricoh on the awards night when the winning team will be announced and then asked to join the Ricoh chefs in the kitchens and cook their winning dish for the 200 guests. The Ricoh’s head chef Tom Harris and development chef Felan Hennigan were the two judges. Felan said: “All of the food looked, smelt and tasted delicious – the students at Henley College did a great job and are good chefs in the making. “When we sampled each dish we gave the students advice and tips on how they could improve – but the overall standard of both taste and presentation was outstanding. “When they were deciding on their menus, they had to bear in mind that we wanted a dish that would be straightforward enough to cook for a large amount of people in a short amount of time. “Cooking for 200 people is quite a task, let alone a hall full of food critics and people that really know the food industry, so it will be a great and memorable experience for the winning team.” For more information on the Food and Drink awards go to www.foodanddrink2008.co.uk ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- News item 02/10/08 The Ricoh Arena to host prestigious Food and Drink Awards Dinner The Coventry and Warwickshire Food and Drink awards dinner is to be held at Ricoh Arena in Coventry on 18 November when the winners of these highly coveted awards will be announced. The awards, which are in their 7th year, are designed to encourage and reward quality, excellence and the innovative use of local produce, and for the first time members of the public will be able to get tickets and head along. This year’s awards have been very successful in terms of the number and quality of entries submitted. Around 150 businesses and customers from across the region are expected to attend the dinner and find out which local businesses have been fortunate enough to scoop an award. Cllr Chris Saint, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, said : “The Ricoh Arena has this year been chosen as the venue to host the awards due to its capacity, location and their strong local sourcing policy. “Each year these awards become harder fought and the level just goes up and up. The decision was taken that this year the awards would be opened up to any members of the public who wished to sample just what goes on at this prestigious event.” The evening, which will start at 7pm, will include a drinks reception. The awards presentation will take place after the three course dinner devised using a selection of regional produce. Felan Hennigan, development chef at the Ricoh Arena, said the venue was the perfect location to host a prestigious regional food and drink competition. “We have sourced a wide variety of local juices for the pre-event reception as well as locally produced ingredients for the menu which will be served at the Coventry and Warwickshire Food and Drink awards,” he said. “The flexibility of our catering agreement with the Compass Group means that as much as possible we use local suppliers for the meals that we serve throughout the Ricoh Arena from the Singers Bar and Bistro to corporate functions in the Jaguar Club. “This competition is a great opportunity as it highlights the importance of using local ingredients and supporting local businesses, and enhances the final product.” Tickets, which cost £35 per person, can be purchased by telephoning the Coventry, Stratford and Warwick Convention Bureau on 0844 477 8379. Payment methods include credit or debit card. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- News item 04/09/08 Short Listed Businesses Announced Organisers of this year’s Coventry & Warwickshire’s Food and Drink Awards revealed today the short listed businesses for each of the categories of this year’s Awards. The highly coveted awards attracted over 100 entries from across the region and will now be visited anonymously by independent judges ‘Quality in Tourism’ who work on behalf of VisitBritain. Quality in Tourism has over 30 years of expertise and considerable knowledge in running quality standards. Being the official judging organisation has many benefits for those that enter the awards scheme. Not only is Quality in Tourism highly regarded within the industry but they are completely independent. And this year’s short listed entries are….. Best Restaurant Ashton Lodge Country Hotel & Restaurant, Stretton-under-Fosse, Nr Rugby Chapel House, Atherstone Essence Restaurant, Alcester Malbec Restaurant, Stratford-upon-Avon Queans Restaurant, Leamington Spa Tailors Restaurant, Warwick Best International Restaurant Agra Palace, Nuneaton Cardamon Indian Cusine Restaurant & Takeaway, Alcester Rajrani Exquisite Bengal & Indian Cuisine, Coleshill The Cellar Restaurant, Warwick Best Dining Pub / Inn Golden Lion Hotel, Easenhall, Nr Rugby The Bluebell, Henley-in-Arden The Granville @ Barford, Barford The Peacock, Oxhill The Red Lion, Hunnigham, Nr Leamington Spa The Shakespeare Inn Country Pub & Dining, Welford-on-Avon Best Coffee House/Tea Shop Greenbean mobile coffee company, Stratford-upon-Avon McKechnies independent tea and coffee bar, Stratford-upon-Avon Mrs Brown's Tea Room, Shipston-on-Stour Best Restaurant / Café within a Visitor Attraction RSC Courtyard Theatre Café, Stratford-upon-Avon The Restaurant at Garden Organic Ryton, Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Nr Coventry Malt Kiln Kitchen at Malt Kiln Farm Shop, Stretton-under-Fosse, Nr Rugby Planters Restaurant, Freasley, North Warwickshire Best Breakfast Ashton Lodge Country Hotel & Restaurant, Stretton-under-Fosse, Nr Rugby Glebe Farm, Ashorne Malt Kiln Kitchen at Malt Kiln Farm Shop, Stretton-under-Fosse, Nr Rugby Planters Restaurant, Freasley, North Warwickshire Champion of Local Produce Retailer 19 Gales Farm House Foods Ltd, Atherstone Malt Kiln Farm Shop, Stretton-under-Fosse, Nr Rugby Taste of the Country, Shipston-on-Stour Best Local Food or Drink Producer 19 Gales Farm House Foods Ltd, Bentley, Nr Atherstone Harvest of Arden, Snitterfield, Nr Stratford-upon-Avon Ringswood Ice cream, Pailton, Nr Rugby Taste of the Country, Shipston-on-Stour The Soupery, Stoneleigh Councillor Saint, Portfolio Holder for Economic Development at Warwickshire County Council said “We were delighted to receive such a high number of entries this year - not only from previous applicants but also from businesses who have entered for the very first time. We welcome all applications and it is encouraging to see that the standard of entries is also improving every year, which not only heightens the competition but makes the Awards Dinner even more exciting!” The winners will be announced at a Gala Awards Dinner on the 18th November which this year will be held at the impressive Ricoh Arena. As well as receiving a plaque and certificate to display on their premises, winners will also benefit from extensive media exposure, increased awareness and recognition of their quality standards and commitment to local food sourcing. Tickets for the Award Dinner will be available shortly and for the first time will be open to the general public as well as local businesses. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- News item 25/07/08 LAST CALL FOR FOOD AND DRINK AWARD ENTRIES! Organisers of this year’s Coventry & Warwickshire’s Food and Drink Awards are making a final call to food and drink businesses to submit entries to this year’s awards, with the closing date fast approaching on Thursday 31st July. The winners will be announced at a special gala dinner on the 18th November, which this year will be held at the impressive Ricoh Arena, Coventry. Restaurants, pubs, coffee houses, and visitor attractions can all enter the Awards as there is a wide range of categories to enter and awards to be won, from Best Restaurant to Best Breakfast! Judging will take place during the first two weeks of August and will be carried out by a totally independent organisation, Quality in Tourism, who work on behalf of VisitBritain. All entrants will be judged on their quality, excellence and use of local produce and the final short-listed businesses for each category will be announced at the beginning of August. Encouraging people to enter, Anne Cumberlidge, Tourism Business Advisor for Coventry & Warwickshire said: “The Food and Drink Awards are much sought after by the industry. They are not only a mark of excellence within the industry, but winners also receive extensive publicity which helps raise their profile. It is free for businesses to participate in the Awards, apart from covering the cost of the Judge’s meal, so they really have nothing to lose and everything to gain!” This annual competition was founded to promote the use of local produce, dishes and culinary talent found throughout the region. The initiative also aims to raise standards within the hospitality industry and highlight the individuals who truly represent the overwhelming passion for quality cuisine in Coventry & Warwickshire. Entry forms are available from Richard Drakeley, Coventry & Warwickshire Food and Drink Awards Coordinator on 01926 412136 or email tourism@warwickshire.gov.uk. CLICK HERE FOR ENTRY FORMS AND CRITERIA The closing date for receipt of entries is Thursday 31July 2008. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- News item 01/07/08 NEW CATEGORIES MARK THE LAUNCH OF THE COVENTRY & WARWICKSHIRE FOOD AND DRINK AWARDS The Coventry & Warwickshire Food and Drink Awards were officially launched today (1st July), with the introduction of a number of NEW Awards, designed to fully reflect the diversity of the region’s food and drink offer. The region’s finest food and drink producers, retailers, restaurants, cafes, pubs, guest houses, visitor attractions, chefs, waiters and waitresses are all being invited to enter these prestigious awards. Businesses have until the 31st July to enter the awards, after which a maximum of five businesses per category will be short-listed, in relation to their quality, excellence in customer service and innovative use of local produce. The winners will then be announced at a Gala Awards Dinner on the 18th November at the impressive Ricoh Arena, Coventry. This, the 7th year of the Awards, sees the introduction of three NEW Categories: Best Dining Pub/Inn - acknowledging the growing popularity of Gastro Pubs. Best Restaurant/Café within a Visitor Attraction - recognising the importance of food and drink as part of a visitors’ overall enjoyment of an attraction or leisure destination. Best Food and Drink Experience - acknowledging the importance of all elements in the provision of food and drink, including menu range, availability of local produce, service standards and facilities. Anne Cumberlidge, Tourism Business Adviser from Coventry & Warwickshire said: “The increase in categories this year means that all Food and Drink Businesses now have the opportunity to enter the Awards.We know that by winning an award businesses benefit in so many ways, from the marketing and PR surrounding the awards, to the increase in staff morale and the invaluable feedback they receive from the judges.” The closing date for entries is Thursday 31st July and for the first time entrants can apply on-line via the website www.foodanddrink2008.co.uk. It is free for businesses to participate in the Awards, apart from covering the cost of the Judge’s meal. Entrants must complete the form, attach samples of their menu, promotional material, a list of suppliers and state in no more than 250 words why they deserve to win. Businesses must use the criteria for the awards before they submit their entry.