1000’s of functions became lots of of opponents. And – at Hackney Bridge this weekend – all of it got here all the way down to The Ultimate Sixteen. Our superb judging panel – Michelin-starred cooks Tom Brown and Andy Beynon PLUS the perfect promoting cookbook authors Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Richard Jones AND the road meals legend Ranie Sirah – had the unenviable activity of selecting our 2023 Champions.
And? The winners? And 2023 British Road Meals Awards Champions? Going to characterize the UK in Europe? Choola (Fife, Scotland), who introduced the UNBELIEVABLY genuine flavours of Nepal to London. In second place had been Syiok-Lah (Nottinghamshire, England), purveyors of the definitive beef rendang, and – in third place – final burger specialists ? Cafe 77 (Hertfordshire, England). Superb. The lot of them.
The Folks’s Alternative – chosen by everybody who attended the three-day occasion – had been Amani Kitchen (Hertfordshire, England), with their mouth-watering twists on basic Arabic/Center Jap classics. Adopted by El Cabron Tacos (Rhondda Cynon Taff, Wales) in second and It’s All Gravy (London, England) in third. The Champions and the Folks’s Alternative now go to the grand finals of the European Road Meals Awards in Germany on September 29-October 1.
We attracted loads of consideration. Sunday Brunch didn’t simply need ONE lot of finalists. They needed two. On consecutive weekends. BBC Radio London needed the lowdown after all. And everybody from the Night Commonplace to Time Out – and everybody else – needed to shout about it. However after the fuss on Steph’s Packed Lunch and the Awards on Dragon’s Den, we knew 2023 was going to be unmissable.
It was a tremendous record of finalists. And so they entered extraordinary menus for judging. The winners of Greatest Snack had been Fred’s Yard Barbecue (Midlothian, Scotland), whereas Bia (Midlothian, Scotland) took Greatest Essential Dish. Greatest Burger went to Cafe 77 (Hertfordshire, England) and the Spice Award – sponsored by Cobra – went to Oi Dumplings (Yorkshire, England). Greatest Sandwich went to It’s All Gravy (London, England), Greatest Vegetarian was El Cabron Tacos (Rhondda Cynon Taff, Wales) and Greatest Dessert was Day’s Bakes (West Glamorgan, Wales).
The Greatest Wanting Award – sponsored by Majisign – went to Igloo Pizza Co (County Antrim, Northern Eire). The Sustainability Award – judged by the Sustainable Restaurant Affiliation – went to Gamekeeper for his or her extraordinary and traceable venison burgers. Intently beating Earth to Oven, Tiny Concept, Wild Road Kitchen and Saving Nemo. And Greatest Meals Corridor – for the second 12 months operating – went to Cutlery Works in Sheffield.
That simply left Future Meals Legend, for a dealer who guarantees to actually CHANGE the business – which went to Smoking Lobster (Isle of Wight, England). Plus The Additional Mile Award for a dealer giving one thing additional of their pursuit of excellence, which went to the superb LJ Hugs (Somerset, England). And the Entrepreneur of the Yr, for a genius idea and execution, went to Hash Hut (London, England).
Simply time for a fast sit down earlier than we flip our consideration to the 2023 European Road Meals Awards and the inaugural USA Road Meals Awards – launching in LA this November!
