Dubai, UAE: The region’s most respected consumer choice foodie awards, the BBC Good Food Middle East Awards is back for the fifth year now, and it’s getting bigger and better each year.
In these vote-based, unbiased awards, end-users get to nominate their favourite restaurants and food brands, and then in the second phase, vote for the final winners, from a shortlist of the ones with the highest nominations.
From the finest steakhouses to gourmet Italian restaurants, from family-friendly diners to casual cafes, this is the chance for everyone to get their favourites recognised in this glittering annual event, now one of the most important dates in the region’s calendar for the food industry and foodies alike.
In line with the ever-growing popularity of the awards, and with changing trends in the industry, two new categories have been added this year – Best Sustainable Restaurant and Best Food Blogger – taking the total number of categories/awards to 35.
Plus, one of the most highly anticipated awards, and unique to the BBC Good Food ME awards, is the Chef of the Year award, where the talent behind all that fantastic food get rewarded with the coveted title, after cooking off against their closest competitors in a Mystery box cooking challenge.
But, the awards are not just about eating out, as they also recognise the importance of home cooking in people’s lives. Whether it’s a can’t-live-without ingredient or a must-have kitchen appliance, this is the opportunity for the region’s best loved culinary brands to get their users’ stamp of approval.
In the nomination phase, which runs until 30th September 2014 and consumers are encouraged to nominate their favourites in each of the category, after which each nomination will be tabulated and whoever has the highest nominations (up to 10 restaurants/brands) will get into the finals for the final voting phase. A lucky voter has a chance to win a fantastic 3-day culinary tour in Cape Grace, Cape Town – an award-winning hotel in South Africa
Below are the categories:
Fine Dining
Restaurant of the Year, Dubai*
Restaurant of the Year, Abu Dhabi*
Best New Restaurant, Dubai* (opened on or after January 2014)
Best New Restaurant, Abu Dhabi* (opened on or after January 2014)
Restaurant of the Year, Doha, Qatar
Chef of the Year
Best European
Best Asian
Best Contemporary British
Best Latin American
Best Indian
Best Middle Eastern
Best Steakhouse
Best Brunch
Best Italian
Best Seafood
Best Experiential Dining Venue (an outlet that offers a unique entertainment experience along with great food)
Casual Dining
Best International
Best Indian
Best Asian
Best Middle Eastern
Best Cafe
Ingredients
Favourite Supermarket
Favourite Speciality Food Store/Market
Favourite Brand for Store Cupboard Items
Favourite Dairy Brand
Favourite Olive Oil Brand
Favourite Tea Brand
Favourite Coffee Brand
Favourite Juice Brand
Accessories
Favourite Large Kitchen Appliance Brand
Favourite Small Kitchen Appliance Brand
Favourite Tableware Store
NEW categories:
Best Sustainable Restaurant
Best Food Blogger
*Winners for these categories will be selected by an independent judging panel
About BBC Good Food ME:
BBC Good Food Middle East is the regional edition of one of the world’s most popular food magazines and websites. It is the definitive foodie read in the Middle East, with tried & tested recipes, the latest food news and views, chef interviews, restaurant updates, culinary travel and lots more. The newly re-launched website offers thousands of tried-and-tested recipes, as well as additional content tailored to the regional audience, including restaurant listings, fabulous competitions and lots more, in an attractive, interactive digital environment.
The brand also includes the BBC Good Food ME Food Club and Food Club Premium, a growing community of foodies enjoying exclusive benefits. Food Club membership is free and offers access to masterclasses with top chefs, restaurant discounts and weekly newsletters. Food Club Premium membership is a subscriber-based programme that provides hand-picked offers from select partners and luxury events, giveaways, and money-can’t-buy experiences, plus the monthly magazine, all for an annual price of Dhs120.
The monthly glossy is published by CPI Media Group, one of the region’s leading publishing houses.