Huge variety of cuisines on our doorstep

Dec 4 2008 by Paul Loraine, The Journal

THE North East’s restaurant industry is as diverse as it has ever been, according one of the region’s food experts.

A recent survey by The Gourmet Society showed British cuisine is still most popular with diners in the region but there is an ever-increasing wealth of options.

Adding to the huge number of Italian restaurants, and a substantial number of places offering Indian and Chinese cuisine, there has been a surge of eateries serving food from other parts of the globe springing up around the region.

The society’s North East director Rob Collins says we have never had so much choice.

“There are more Italian restaurants in the North East than in the rest of the country in terms of concentration,” he said.

“I also think we have some excellent Indian restaurants here, some of which are award winning and have been involved in national competitions.

“The other thing with the Oriental restaurants is there’s more choice opening up. There’s a handful of decent Thai places and there are some Japanese places opening up now.

The North East’s purveyors of foreign food will be going up against each other in the North East Restaurant Awards 2009, fighting it out for Best Indian Restaurant, Best Oriental Restaurant and Best European Restaurant.

They are three of 16 categories – 14 of which can be voted for by the public.

Run in association with the Gourmet Society, and sponsored by The Journal, our sister paper the Evening Gazette in Middlesbrough, North East crockery and cutlery firm Crosbys and German catering equipment supplier Schönwald, the aims of the awards are to celebrate and highlight the region’s burgeoning restaurant scene and its many culinary delights from across the globe.

Readers are being encouraged to enjoy some of the exquisite food by dining out at one of the region’s 500-plus restaurants and gastro pubs.

The Journal’s food critic Geoff Laws said the high quantity and quality of the global cuisine on offer in the North East was something to be proud of.

“I think the competition in each of the categories will be really tough.

“As well as the Italian, Indian and Chinese restaurants, we now have Vietnamese, Turkish and Thai restaurants to choose from.

“The quality overall is getting a lot better and I think we’re spoilt for choice in the North East.”

Mr Collins said: “In terms of choice, I think it’s less rigid than it was, but I still think there’s room for more interesting cuisine. I would like to see a Moroccan restaurant in the region. I think the restaurant owners have been doing it long enough to know how to get it right now.

“We have also been eating out long enough to know what we like. There’s definitely room for more scope and choice, but we should be very happy with the choice we have now – it is the best choice and variety we’ve ever had.”

About 500,000 voting cards are being distributed to restaurants, giving diners the chance to nominate their favourite in the 14 categories to be decided by the public.

The Journal Taste Award: For Best Use of Local Produce, and the prestigious Restaurant of the Year title – won last time by Newcastle’s Secco Ristorante Salentino – will be judged by independent panels made up of food critics and industry experts.

Compliments

AWARDS the public can vote for are:

:: Best Newcastle, Gateshead and North Tyneside Restaurant

:: Best Durham Restaurant

:: Best Teesside and Cleveland Restaurant

:: Best South Tyneside and Sunderland Restaurant

:: Best Northumberland Restaurant

:: Best Drinks List

:: Best Small Restaurant

:: Best Indian Restaurant

:: Best Oriental Restaurant

:: Best European Restaurant

:: Best Value For Money Restaurant

:: Best Chain Restaurant

:: Best New Restaurant

:: Best Interior

The winners in all 16 categories will be announced at a ceremony at The Sage Gateshead on February 10 next year.