Food Fair visitors pick hot favourites for Best Tastes in the Borders
Thursday, August 3 2006
Visitors to this year's popular Food Fair at the Border Union Agricultural Show in Kelso took the opportunity to nominate their favourite local restaurants, cafes and tea rooms for the Best Tastes in the Borders awards.
The awards, now in their fifteenth year, recognise excellence in local food quality and customer service.Scottish Borders Council took over the main sponsorship of the competition this year from VisitScotland.
“We had a great response from the public and a lot of nominations from visitors to the Food Fair, who really entered into the spirit of the event,” reported Marion Oates, Economic Development Manager for Scottish Borders Council. “The cookery demonstrations from top chefs must have helped to whet everyone’s appetite for the awards, and the Food Fair was a perfect opportunity to give credit where it is deserved.”
The 10 award categories include Best Formal Meal, Best Informal Meal (one award for lunch, one for dinner), Best Local Produce Supplier, Best New Catering Business and Best Eating Out Place in a nominated ‘Borders Regeneration Area’.
Launching the start of the competition at Harestanes Countryside Visitors’ Centre at Ancrum in June, Councillor John Elliot, SBC Executive Spokesman for Planning and Economic Development, said, “We will be giving the contest a new look this year, with 10 categories of award, including Best Promotion of Healthy Food Choicesand Best Local Produce Champion. The Best Taste in the Borders contest has consistently proved that healthy competition raises the levels of food and service, making the Borders an ever more attractive place to live and visit. We are especially pleased to have the support of our partners VisitScotland Borders, Business Gateway, NFU Scotland, NHS Borders, EatScotland and Borders Chefs’ School.”
Previous award-winner Gill Orde, Manager at Harestanes Tearoom, joined Councillor John Elliot at the launch. The Overall Competition Winner for 2005 was the Halcyon Restaurant in Peebles.
Gill Orde said, “I was absolutely delighted to win the award for the Best Promotion of Healthy Food Choices last year, especially as children are our key customers at Harestanes. I am continually striving to produce healthier food, like our new 99% fat-free loaves, and I think the award has really helped to promote my business at the tearooms at Harestanes, Mellerstain House and Abbotsford House.”
This is the first year that nominations can be made over the Internet (via www.scotborders.gov.uk or www.visitscottishborders.com). Nomination forms can also picked up at tourist information centres and local council offices.
Winners will be announced at an Awards Ceremony in early November.
The awards include the following categories:
- VisitScotland Borders Award for Best Borders Touch Hospitality - for first class, consistent and welcoming customer service skills. [more]
- Business Gateway Award for Best New Catering Business Concept – to recognise new and innovative business ideas and effective management methods.
- Borders NHS Trust Health Promotions Dept Award for Best Promotion of Healthy Food Choices - to recognise menus offering a range of healthy choices.
- National Farmers Union Scotland Award for Local Produce Champion – “Farm to Fork” – for establishments who make best use of local ingredients and highlight them on their menus.
- Borders Chef’s School Award for Best Training Candidate - awarded to students achieving the best advances in their personal training programmes via Borders College.
- EatScotland Award for Best Informal Meal in the evening - for excellence in an informal eating setting at dinner (light informal meals in bistros, bars and informal restaurants).
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