Northern Restaurant & Bar showcases the north’s ‘Best of Fine Food’

As plans take shape for this year’s Northern Restaurant & Bar (NRB), which runs on 12 and 13 March at Manchester Central, organisers announce this year’s partners for the Best of Fine Foods showcase.

Northern Restaurant & Bar has teamed up with Taste Cumbria, Visit Manchester, Taste Lancashire and Northern Ireland Naturally to give visitors the opportunity to discover, taste and source the north’s world-class fine foods.

Speaking about Best of Fine Foods, event director, Andy Clayfield, said: “NRB has always put a spotlight on the region’s fine food producers and suppliers but this year, with the support of Taste Cumbria, Visit Manchester, Taste Lancashire and Northern Ireland Naturally, we’re able to dig deeper and bring visitors fine foods they may never have tasted before from producers who are new, innovative and who are trailing a blaze in their fields.”

Taste Cumbria will bring top-class food and drink produce to the show, all of which can be supplied directly to the catering industry. A hand-picked selection of Cumbria’s most renowned chefs will also take to the Taste Cumbria demonstration kitchen to show visitors the variety and scope of Cumbria’s produce.

Mary Houston, food tourism manager at Taste Cumbria, said: “Tourism is one of the mainstays of Cumbria’s economy and food and drink is a thriving, dynamic segment of this sector. But why keep our unique and delicious local produce, passionate suppliers and service providers to ourselves? Whilst we can’t bring our stunning, rural backdrop to the rest of the world, we can demonstrate the quality and integrity that runs rich in our area. We’re delighted to attend NRB 2012 with some of the county’s most iconic, distinctive food brands.”

Also showcasing its region’s finest foods is Visit Manchester which supports local producers and suppliers in the Greater Manchester area. Taste Lancashire will champion Lancashire’s diverse and award winning food and drink producers while Northern Ireland Naturally will present new food ideas and established favourites from Northern Ireland including artisan breads, premium beef, dairy, fresh vegetables, tea & coffee and unique berry liqueurs.

Northern Restaurant & Bar

Now in its 11th year, the two day show welcomes trade-only exhibitors and visitors including brewers, hoteliers, publicans, catering suppliers, chefs, restaurateurs and bartenders from across the north of England. As well as being a hotspot for hospitality networking, Northern Restaurant & Bar will stage chef demonstrations, tutored tastings, cocktail shows and fine food displays.

Key features include Chef Live, Grape, Grain & Bean, the Liquor Theatre and new for this year, the NRB Top 50 which will honour 50 individuals from influential operators in the north of England, with a special reception being held on Monday 12 March for those listed.

Registration for free tickets to Northern Restaurant & Bar is available at www.northernrestaurantandbar.co.uk now.