Success at Food Awards Scotland

winners: Titles for local eateries

Restaurants and eateries across Tayside and Fife have enjoyed major success at the Food Awards Scotland, securing 15 individual titles.

The annual event celebrates the hard work of professionals and businesses from across the Scottish food sector.

Competing restaurants, takeaways, pubs and suppliers are all nominated by members of the public and then rigorously assessed by judges.

In the end, they decided that Scotland’s best Italian food is to be found in Borgotaro at Broughty Ferry’s Fort Hotel and the best Mexican meals at The Mexican in Perth.

The title of Fine Dining restaurant of the year was awarded to The Grange in St Andrews, while the North Port Restaurant in Perth was named Traditional Scottish restaurant of the year.

Dundee boasts the Gastro pub of the year, with The D’Arcy Thompson impressing judges with the quality of its food, staff and atmosphere.

The Fort Hotel’s John Black said he was stunned by the Best Italian accolade, which came only nine months after he took the brave decision to change the direction of the business’ restaurant.

“It was my wife Marion’s idea to open the Italian,” he said. “My mum’s family are Italian and live in Borgotaro, which is why we chose that name.

“The Food Awards are not something you enter – you’re nominated by your customers – so this just fantastic.

“We were shocked to say the least and it’s great credit to our staff and our head chef Norrie Preedy.

“We have had great feedback from customers but receiving an award like this so soon after opening is pretty amazing.”

THE LOCAL WINNERS: Best Italian – Borgotaro (Dundee); Best Mexican – The Mexican (Perth); Fine dining restaurant of the year – The Grange Inn (St Andrews); Traditional Scottish restaurant 2015 – North Port Restaurant (Perth); Meat supplier of the year – The Buffalo Farm (Kirkcaldy); Gastro pub of the year north-east and overall winner of Gastro pub of the year – The D’Arcy Thompson (Dundee); Cafe/bistro of the year north-east – The Copper Beech Cafe (Perth); Hotel restaurant of the year north-east – Fonab Brasserie (Fonab Castle Hotel, Pitlochry); Hotel restaurant of the year south-west – Cromlix Hotel (Dunblane); Takeaway of the year north-east and overall winner takeaway of the year – Cromars (St Andrews); Caterer of the year south-east and overall caterer of the year – Scott’s Catering Service (Glenrothes); Restaurant of the year north-east – Playfairs Restaurant (St Andrews).