» Food & Drink: Brighton & Hove Foodie Awards
Andrew Kay reports on the chart toppers in the Brighton & Hove Foodie Awards
Terre a Terre
The current leaders in the Brighton & Hove Foodie Awards have been announced for the last time. On Monday 4 October, the winners will receive their trophies at a presentation ceremony sponsored by the new environmentally-friendly, socially responsible coffee brand ‘ecoffee’ at the Hilton Brighton Metropole.
According to the organisers, Natural PR, well over 2,500 votes have been registered in the past five months since the awards were launched as part of the city’s spring food festival.
Every second Friday of the month, the Foodie leaders – those who have received the most votes from the public so far – have been announced on Juice FM by DJ Andrea Fox and myself. Andrea and her radio hubby, Guy, have joined me on a few occasions to go out and take a look at the front runners.
Already we have sampled the delights of Pub du Vin where we thoroughly enjoyed their homemade bar snacks as well as a pretty stunning lemon sole and some excellent salads. Although we have not made it to The Ginger Pig I had an excellent dish of crispy pigs head at their Ginger Dog branch in Kemp Town. Standards across the Ginger brand are always very high, so it comes as no surprise to see them up at the top in the voting. Also unsurprisingly, The Sussex Yeoman remains a firm favourite for a simple dish of Elle’s homemade sausages or one of her more complex and accomplished dishes.
“Standards across the Ginger brand are always very high, so it comes as no surprise to see them up at the top in the voting for Best Food Pub”
I have personally become addicted to Saturday mornings at Ground in Kemp Town Village, where they serve a great mocha and also have good ciabatta rolls and excellent patisserie supplied by my old favourites Cocoa.
Andrea and I both had a very good and well presented lunch at Temptation café, who have now moved into second place knocking Bill’s Brighton back to third.
I recently had two meals at Bill’s: one excellent breakfast of fruit followed by a disappointing eggs Benedict. The service however, on complaining, was first class and will keep them in my mind as one of the city’s gems. We all have bad moments, and they certainly knew how to make amends for a silly slip.
In the food shop category two of the top three are regulars in my shopping life so I am delighted to see them there. As for the Angel Food Bakery, I have to admit to avoiding them – not because they are bad, but because I am bad and fat enough already…
Best Restaurant
In August, Terre a Terre remains in the lead in the Best restaurant category, with Hotel du Vin moving up into second place, and Food for Friends in third.
Best Food Pub
The Ginger Pig is still storming ahead in the food pub category, with Pub du Vin close behind in second place this month, and the Sussex Yeoman in third.
Best Café
Ground is maintaining their lead after moving ahead last month, but now Temptation has moved up into second place, with Bill’s in third place.
Best Food Shop
There’s no change in this category: the wonderful Infinity Foods is still managing to hold its lead, the brilliant Taj is in second place, followed by the scrumptious Angel Food Bakery.
Brighton and Hove Foodies organiser Paula Seager, from Natural PR, says: “Thank you to everyone who has voted so far – and now a message to everyone who hasn’t: please vote! You must have a favourite restaurant, food pub, café and food shop – and your vote really does decide. Voting closes Friday 10 September – so vote now at www.brightonfoodawards.com.”
I agree with her whole-heartedly; this is a great opportunity for you to voice your opinions and vote for your favourite foodie experiences.
www.brightonfoodawards.com
