2008 Food and drink awards - The results.

The winners of this year’s Manchester Food and Drink Awards were announced this week as the regions’s top culinary talents gathered at the Gala awards dinner, held in the opulent Grand Ballroom at the Palace Hotel.

The awards, hosted by Channel M’s Gerry McLaughlin and the BBC’s Becky Want, are decided upon by an independent panel of food and drink critics and experts from the city, before being opened up for the public vote, after which the panel then decide the winners using the public vote along with their own.

The champagne reception and six-course banquet was true to this year’s theme “Grow your own” with fruit and vegetables sourced from Greater Manchester Allotments.

The 2008 award winners are:

Restaurant of the Year - Michael Caines at Abode

Chef of the Year - Abdulla Naseem at Ramsons

Bar of the Year - Trof at The Deaf Institute

Pub of the Year - Arden Arms in Stockport

Newcomer of the Year - Ithaca

Family Friendly Restaurant of the Year - Tampopo

Casual Dining venue of the Year - Cup in the Northern Quarter 

Best Food and Drink outlet - Heroes, Norden, Rochdale

Vegetarian Restaurant of the Year - Greens in Didsbury

Best Wine List - Grado

Awards for Healthy and Sustainable Eating - Earth Café

Best Beer Brewed in Manchester - The Alchemist by Pictish Brewery, Rochdale

The People’s Pint - Pavillion Pale Ale by Bank Top Brewery, Bolton

Outstanding Contribution -  Andrew Nutter

Manchester Food and Drink Investment in Skills Awards sponsored by Visit Manchester:

Outstanding Customer Service - Andrea Hammer from Abode Hotel, Manchester

Manchester Young Waiter - Henning Gallient from the Radisson SAS

Manchester Young Chef - Adam Smith from Abode Hotel