Manchester Food and Drink Festival Shortlist

Here’s the shortlist for the Manchester Food and Drink Awards 2011 which takes place between 7-17 October. The awards cover the Greater Manchester area – Manchester, Salford, Rochdale, Bury, Bolton, Wigan, Trafford, Stockport, Tameside and Oldham.

It's a strong list, particularly well blessed in the Newcomer and Bar categories. I've personally had fine times in every single one of the chosen twelve over the year. Our picture here comes from one of the newcomers, the lovely Rose Garden in West Didsbury.

Controversially there is no vegetarian category in the region where the Vegetarian Society has its home – Altrincham. That might cause a few ructions. Although the Festival organisers say other categories may be added over the next month.

Take a look, see what you think. There's more information on the Festival website www.foodanddrinkfestival.com

For some of the event highlights of this year's Festival click here.

By the way Gordo and Simon Binns were the Manchester Confidential representatives during the selection of the shortlist. 

MFDF 2011 AWARDS SHORTLIST 

Restaurant of the Year

Damson, 113 Heaton Moor Road, Stockport, SK4 4HY

Gaucho, 2A St Marys Street, Manchester, M3 2LB

Harvey Nichols Second Floor Restaurant, 21 New Cathedral Street, Manchester, M1 1AD

The Mark Addy, Stanley Street, Salford, M3 5EJ

Michael Caines Restaurant at Abode Manchester, 107 Piccadilly, Manchester, M1 2DB

Ramsons, 16 - 18 Market Place, Ramsbottom, Bury, BL0 9HT 

Newcomer of the Year

Australasia, 1 The Avenue, Spinningfields, Manchester, M3 3AP

Bistro 1847, 58 Mosley Street, Manchester, M2 3HZ

Cicchetti, Ground Floor, House of Fraser, Deansgate, Manchester, M3 2QG

Port Street Beer House, 39 - 41 Port Street, Manchester, M1 2EQ

The Rose Garden, 218 Burton Road, West Didsbury, Manchester, M20 2LW

Vertigo, 36 John Dalton Street, Manchester M2 6LE 

Bar of the Year

The Alchemist, 3 Hardman Street, Spinningfields, Manchester, M3 3HF

Black Dog Ballroom, Corner of Tib Street/Church Street, Manchester, M4 1PW

Electrik, 559 Wilbraham Road, Chorlton, Manchester, M21 0AE

The Molly House, 26 Richmond Street, Manchester, M1 3NB

Port Street Beer House, 39 - 41 Port Street, Manchester, M1 2EQ

The River Bar, The Lowry Hotel, 50 Dearmans Place, Salford, M3 5LH 

Chef of the Year

Bryn Evans, Rhubarb

Ian Armstrong, Vertigo

Laurence Tottingham and Mary-Ellen McTague, Aumbry

Pete Taylor, Room

Robert Owen Brown, The Mark Addy

Stuart Thomson, Harvey Nichols Second Floor Restaurant

Wine List of the Year

Evuna, 277-279 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 4EW

Gaucho, 2A St Marys Street, Manchester, M3 2LB

Harvey Nichols Second Floor Restaurant, 21 New Cathedral Street, Manchester, M1 1AD

Michael Caines Restaurant at Abode Manchester, 107 Piccadilly, Manchester, M1 2DB

Ramsons, 16 - 18 Market Place, Ramsbottom, Bury, BL0 9HT

The River Bar and Restaurant, The Lowry Hotel, 50 Dearmans Place, Salford, M3 5LH 

Retailer of the Year

Barbakan Delicatessen, 67-71 Manchester Road, Chorlton cum Hardy, M21 9PW

Bradley’s Bakery, 225 King's Road, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 9EE

The Cheese Place, Unit 6, Radius Building, Prestwich, Manchester M25 1AY

J.A. Hyman (Titanics), 123-129 Waterloo Road, Cheetham, Manchester, M8 8BT

Out of the Blue, 484 Wilbraham Road, Manchester, M21 9AS

W.H. Frosts Butchers, 14 Chorlton Place, Chorlton, Manchester M21 9AQ 

Pub of the Year

The Angel Pub, 6 Angel Street, Manchester, M4 4BQ

Bar Fringe, 8 Swan Street, Manchester, M4 5JN

The Briton’s Protection, 50 Great Bridgewater Street, Manchester, M1 5LE

The Castle Hotel, 66 Oldham Street, Manchester, M4 1LE

The Nursery Inn, 258 Green Lane, Heaton Norris, Stockport, SK4 2NA

The Parlour, 66 Beech Road, Chorlton, M4 1LE 

Coffee Shop and Casual Dining Venue the Year

The Chocolate Cafe, 2 Bolton Street, Ramsbottom, Bury, BL0 9HX

Jack Spratt, St James House, John Dalton Street, Manchester M2 6WH

Kebabish, 49 Hilton Street, Manchester, M1 2EF

North Tea Power, 36 Tib Street, Manchester, M4 1LA

Tampopo, 16 Albert Square, Manchester, M2 5PF

Teacup on Thomas Street, 55 Thomas Street, Manchester, M4 1NA

You can follow Jonathan Schofield on Twitter here @JonathSchofield