For the first time an Indian establishment has been named the best restaurant in Scotland.
But judges of the Catering in Scotland Excellence (CIS) Awards said of Edinburgh’s Mithas: “When you visit, it is advisable to leave whatever you think or know about Indian dining at the door.” Adding that, “It offers great locally sourced ingredients, creative and consistently good cooking and a great standard of service combined with a great ambiance.”
Neil Thomson, Chairman of Judges, commented: “Indian restaurants have kept growing in popularity throughout the UK, and Scottish people in particular have taken them to their hearts. The quality and innovation shown by many Indian restaurant chefs have taken the sector to new levels.”
Mithas, in Leith’s Dock Place, beat other shortlisted restaurants 63 Tay Street in Perth (where last year’s CIS Chef of the Year Graeme Pallister is Chef-Patron), Craig Millar’s 16 West End at St Monans in Fife, and the Horseshoe at Eddleston near Peebles.
It shares ownership with Khushi’s which claims to be the first Indian restaurant to have opened in Edinburgh in 1947 with spices imported from the Punjab.
Catering in Scotland Excellence Awards
The CIS Excellence Awards 2014, the main competition combining Scotland’s catering, hospitality and tourism industries, were presented at a sell-out gala dinner at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow
Independent Hotel of the Year
In another first for the Awards, organised in association with Caterer.com, Jody Marshall became the first general manager to win the trophy for Independent Hotel of the Year twice – and with two different hotels.
Ballathie House, located on a working farm on the banks of the River Tay at Kinclaven, Perthshire, finished ahead of Perth hotel Parklands and Loch Melfort Hotel at Arduaine, near Oban.
Melfort was also shortlisted in 2012 when Marshall was general manager of that year’s winner the Summer Isles Hotel at Auchiltibuie in Wester Ross.
Pub Excellence
Two of Scotland’s top Michelin Star chefs lost out on their first pub food title after their Edinburgh restaurant was pipped in the Pub Excellence category by the Cock and Bull, a former coaching inn at Balmedie, Aberdeenshire. This was described by the judges as “a quintessential gastro pub, a bustling hostelry, popular with locals and whose fame has spread. It offers great service, natural ambience and a lovely genuine warmth with superb food and a menu brimming with local produce.”
Tom Kitchin and Dominic Jack, respectively behind The Kitchin and Castle Terrace restaurants, launched their Scran & Scallie gastropub in the capital’s Stockbridge last year. The other Pub Excellence finalist was the Bridge Inn at Ratho, near Edinburgh, which was highly commended in the category.
Restaurant Newcomer of the Year
Another new venture by a leading Edinburgh chef, Mark Greenaway, did not manage to improve on its shortlisting place when his Bistro Moderne in North West Circus Place was beaten by The Gannet in Glasgow’s Finnieston, transformed last October from a derelict tenement, for the title of Restaurant Newcomer of the Year. The shortlist also included two other Edinburgh restaurants, Bistro Provence and Field.
Chef of the Year
Greenaway, who has represented Scotland on BBC2’s Great British Menu TV series, was also in the final four for Chef of the Year but the award went to Neil Forbes of Cafe St Honore, Edinburgh, winner of the Scottish Restaurant Awards’ Chef of the Year in 2011. Other finalists were Ian McAndrew of Blackaddie House Hotel at Sanquhar in Dumfries, and the Hilton Glasgow’s executive chef, Derek Donaldson.
Other results at the CIS Excellence Awards 2014
Healthier Scotland Award
Winner: Sodexo at the Scottish Government
Other finalists: Inspire Catering @ Kilgraston School, Bridge of Earn, Perthshire; Martha’s, St Vincent Street, Glasgow
Innovation in Training
Winner: Fresh Olives Apprenticeship Awards Programme (Entiér Ltd)
Other finalists: ESS Support Services Worldwide; Zest cafe, St Andrews
Contract Catering Chef of the Year
Winner: Rikki Pirie, Entiér Ltd (at Apache Caledonia House, KIngswells, Aberdeen)
Other finalists: John Buskie, Sodexo Prestige; Stuart Aitken, BaxterStorey Scotland
Sustainable Business
Winner: Cafe St Honoré, Edinburgh
Other finalists: Radisson Blu Hotel, Edinburgh; Ochiltree’s Dining at Abbotsford – the home of Sir Walter Scott
Independent Event Caterer of the Year
Winner: Prep Catering Ltd, Beauly, Inverness-shire
Other finalists: Saltire Hospitality, Newbridge, Edinburgh; Gill Orde in Catering Ltd, Kelso
Excellence in Hospitality Education
Winner: SRUC Elmwood Campus Hospitality Team, Cupar, Fife
Other finalists: City of Glasgow College; Edinburgh School of Food and Wine; Perth College UHI
Employee of the Year
Winner: Mandy Gray, Compass UK & Ireland (Defence & Offshore) – Manager of Compass’ contract at Edinburgh Castle
Other finalists: Taff Doyle, Group Manager of ARAMARK; Caroline White, Manager of Zest, St Andrews
Business Innovation
Winner: Compass Group UK & Ireland for The !dea Works
Other finalists: Pelican Procurement Services, Elstead, Surrey; Cordia Services, Glasgow, for the modernisation of school catering areas