Scottish
Borders Eating Out Guide 2007:
download
a copy
here
Best Eating Place in the Scottish
Borders Competition
The
annual Best Eating Place in the Borders
Competition was adopted in 2006 by Scottish
Borders Council. It encourages restaurants
and other food outlets in the region to
continue to improve the quality of their
food and drink offer as well as the levels
of customer service they provide. Now in
its 15th year, the competition is managed
by TFC and has proved that friendly rivalry
can drive up quality standards. The food
and drink industry brings around £144 million
into the Borders economy every year and
employs nearly 10% of the Borders working
population, so it is an extremely important
sector.Nominations
are invited from the public throughout the
summer. The competition is judged in October
and winners are announced at the beginning
of November.
The award categories for the 2007 competition
were:
1.
Scottish Borders Council Award for
Best Local Produce Supplier Award
2. VisitScotland Borders Award for
Best Customer Service
3. Borders NHS Trust Award for Best
Promotion of Healthy Food Choices
4. EatScotland Award for Best Informal
Meal in the evening
5. National Farmers Union Scotland
Award for Local Produce Champion - "Farm
to Fork"
6. Borders Chef's School Award for
Best Junior Chef
7. Scottish Enterprise Borders Award
for Best Newcomer
8. Award for Best Informal Meal at lunch
9. Award for Best Formal Meal
10. Award for Best Tearoom/Coffee Shop/Take
away
11. Award for Best Breakfast
12. Award for Best Local Produce Supplier
13. Southern Reporter Award for Best
Restaurant Review
14. Scottish Borders Council Award
for Overall Best Eating Place
The hunt is on for the Best
Eating Place in the Scottish Borders. The
Council have launched this year's Eating Out
Competition, inviting everyone to vote for
their favourite establishment.
Convener Alasdair Hutton and
Chris Winson, proprietor of the Wheatsheaf
at Swinton - last year's overall winner -
encouraged another enthusiastic response from
visitors and local residents. Alasdair Hutton
said: "This competition raises public awareness
of our superb choice of eating establishments
in the Borders and rewards those who are making
a special effort to serve and promote locally
produced food. A favourite new category of
mine also gives everyone the chance to remember
where they enjoy really good service with
the introduction of the Best Customer Service
Award."
Chris Winson of the Wheatsheaf
said: "Every voter gets a chance to win
a superb meal out for themselves and friends
in a free prize draw, so it's really worth
adding your vote. We've found the extra publicity
gained by winning the competition has stimulated
our business." Voters will be entered into
a free PRIZE DRAW to win a sumptuous DB&B
for two at the 4 star Lodge at Carfraemill
(worth £140) or a delicious dinner for four
at Oblo's Bar Bistro in Eyemouth (to the value
of £100) or a light lunch for two at Mellerstain
Tearoom with entry to the house and gardens
(worth £30).
In a move to involve customers
more with the competition, voters get the
chance to become a restaurant reviewer along
the lines of Egon Ronay or Gillian Glover.
Anyone who includes a short critique on the
nomination paper could see their piece in
print in the local press over the coming months.
Other new award categories
include Best Newcomer, Best Breakfast, Best
Tearoom/Coffee Shop/Take Away, Best Local
Supplier and Best Junior Chef Award. Voters
can also nominate the Best Formal & Informal
Meals, Best Informal Lunch and Best Local
Produce Champion.
The competition runs from
June to mid-September 2007, with awards
announced in early November. Borders College
will hold a cook-off for the Best Junior
Chef in the Borders competition, prior to
the awards ceremony. Sponsors of the competition
include Scottish Borders Council, Scottish
Enterprise Borders, NHS Borders Health Promotion
Department, Eatscotland, The Southern Reporter,
VisitScotland, National Union of Farmers
Scotland and Borders College. TFC
manage the event for SBC. See
last year's competition winners.
November
2006
Best
Tastes in the Scottish Borders - 2006 Winners
Scottish
Borders Council has launched the Best Tastes
in the Borders eating place competition, encouraging
all establishments across the region to show
off their menus. Everyone isinvited to nominate
their favourite restaurant, café, tearoom
or takeaway for a range of prestigious awards
recognising excellent food quality and customer
service. Scottish Borders Council has adopted
the competition, now in its 15th year, which
was formerly run by VisitScotland Borders.
Marion Oates at Scottish Borders Council said
"We are delighted to take over in 2006. It
has consistently proved that healthy competition
raises the levels of food and service quality,
making the Borders an ever more attractive
place to live and visit."
This year the contest has a
new look with a range of
awards such as Best Promotion of Healthy Food
Choices and Best Local Produce Champion. We
are especially pleased to have the support
of our partners VisitScotland Borders, NFU
Scotland, NHS Borders, Business Gateway, EatScotland
and Borders Chef's School. TFC Food Services
is once again delighted to have been contracted
to run the competition.
More details Last year's overall winner was Halcyon
Restaurant in Peebles. For last year's results
click
here
Scottish
Borders Council has launched the Best Tastes
in the Borders eating place competition, encouraging
all establishments across the region to show
off their menus. Everyone isinvited to nominate
their favourite restaurant, café, tearoom
or takeaway for a range of prestigious awards
recognising excellent food quality and customer
service. Scottish Borders Council has adopted
the competition, now in its 15th year, which
was formerly run by VisitScotland Borders.
Marion Oates at Scottish Borders Council said
"We are delighted to take over in 2006. It
has consistently proved that healthy competition
raises the levels of food and service quality,
making the Borders an ever more attractive
place to live and visit."