At last! The finest eating establishments in Sheffield and North Derbyshire came together for the biggest night in the culinary calendar... the 2017 Westside Restaurant Awards! And, as the main sponsors, the My Fathers Heart team were invited to join in the celebration and watch Sheffield’s best restaurants receive their well-earned awards.
Over the last decade this event has grown into the Oscars of the local dining scene and this Monday evening was the biggest yet. With Great British Bake-Off star Howard Middleton managing to keep all the 230 guests amused and entertained, spirits were high and the evening went without a hitch. Howard was the perfect master of ceremonies, delivering a string of cheeky one-liners as he announced a grand total of 14 award winners.
Baldwins Omega, Sheffield’s premier banqueting venue, provided a suitably grand setting for the gathering of Sheffield’s top end restaurant owners, chefs and front of house staff. And this fabulous venue was given an added glitzy sheen as it was decked out for the night in gold and black candelabra, courtesy of White Rose Occasions.
There was a fantastic party atmosphere with plenty of cheering and smiling all round, but the happiest table belonged to the team from Samuel Fox Country Inn in Bradwell who walked away with both the Best Contemporary Restaurant and the highly coveted Restaurant of the Year award.
The Tickled Trout in Barlow were also double winners, scooping the Best Pub and Young Chef of the Year awards. Owner Chris Mapp accepted the Best Pub award, whilst Dave Cockerill was named Young Chef of the Year, after a MasterChef-style cook-off at My Fathers Heart’s kitchen showroom a few weeks earlier.
Other highlights included The Front Room in Hillsborough winning Best Newcomer and Ecclesall Road stalwart Prithi Raj winning Best Indian Restaurant. Patoo Thai, another byword for consistency and excellence, once again bagged the award for Best Oriental. Best Italian went to long-standing Sharrow restaurant Rossi’s, Best Café/Light Bite went to the fittingly named Hidden Gem Café near Ringinglow Road and Best Family-Friendly went to The Hyde Park Inn in Dronfield.
Brocco on the Park came back for seconds, to take the Best Hotel Restaurant title two years running, whilst new Ecclesall Road cocktail bar, Kettle Black was crowned Best Night Out. As usual the Westside Readers’ Choice award produced a huge response and this year’s winner by a clear margin was 1554, the vibrant and popular coffee shop within Sheffield Cathedral.
Guests enjoyed a delicious five-course meal courtesy of Baldwins. It was a joyous celebration which carried on into the small hours as tables were pushed aside to make way for a DJ and disco.
Jonathan, owner of My Fathers Heart said “It was wonderful to be part of such a successful event. Everyone there clearly had a fantastic time. We really enjoyed hosting the cook-off competition last month and to see Baldwins come to life with Sheffield’s top restaurant owners and staff. We’re real foodies here at My Fathers Heart and we love to see those who have put so much into their business receive the recognition they deserve. It was an honour to be able to support such an occasion. Hats-off to all who were involved.’
The winners were all invited to My Fathers Heart for a champagne and canape post-party to celebrate their wins the following week.
