The second edition of the Taste Bar & Restaurant Awards in partnership with Heineken, kicked off in style at the Heineken East Africa Head Offices on Saturday 3rd November 2012. Food connoisseurs, beverage specialists and personas of note all gathered for a relaxed breakfast mingle, while the more energetic challenged each other to a round on the football table, before settling down for the ‘Taste The Best Workshop 2013’.
The workshop was an opportunity to recognize and nominate the bars and restaurants that have excelled throughout the year in providing exceptional food, enhanced service, great entertainment, a broad beverage selection and ambiance to deliver an overall experience that is exceptional. Audited by BDO, panelists were taken through the process by Barry Tonks, Executive Chef at Hemingways Nairobi, and Patrick Mwangi, Trade Marketing Manager of Heineken.
Panelists included: Elsie Adewa (Brand Kenya), Anthony Gacheru (Visa), Christian Caldera (Alliance Francaise), Junnie Wangari (Coca-Cola), Fareed Kimani (XFM), Camille Richardson (USA Embassy) Phillip Cauviere (WWW Wine Shop & Bar), Javed Kana (Asian Weekly), Rand Pearson (UP Magazine), Alix Grubel (Kenya Buzz), Brennan Matthews (EA Destination), Catherine Mathenge (EABL), Mohammed Elamin (Diageo Reserve Brands), Isis Nyong’o (InMobi), Neil McCarthy (Creative Kitchen), Claire Low (Lakuku), Fatiya Jeneby (F&B Consultant), Susan Wong (Capital FM), Hishma Shah (Kenyan Kitchen), Gastro D’Nom (Saturday Nation), Simon Hodson (Hemwingways Nairobi) and Mikul Shah (Eat Out Kenya).
Establishments nominated at the workshop will form part of the elite ‘Taste the Best 2013’ list. Over the coming weeks the Taste prestige judging panel (who will remain unannounced till early next year) will have the enviable task of evaluating these bars and restaurants to determine winners within the Prestige categories.
As with the inaugural Taste Awards in 2011, the public will have their chance to vote online for their favorite outlets in the People’s Choice categories from January 2013. Taste is also giving away a seat on the judging panel for two of the prestige categories, so if you are a passionate foodie then start prepping your skills – it could be you.
Shreya Karia, Director of Taste noted ‘we are delighted to kick off the second edition of the Taste Bar & Restaurant Awards. 2012 has been a great year; we’ve seen new establishments open up as well as existing ones come up with innovative concepts. Patrons have also become more discerning. This year we are raising the Taste standards, introducing different categories, expanding the voting to include coastal establishments and throwing in a few surprises’.
Winners will be announced at the Taste Awards 2013 on the 31st of January 2013, which will be held at Karura Forest.
Visit www.taste.co.ke to find out how you can get involved.