North East kebab favourites reach semi-finals of national awards
North East kebab favourites reach semi-finals of national awards – Chronicle Live
Here’s how to vote to help Newcastle restaurant The Bake and Whitley Bay’s Turknaz secure glory at the British Kebab Awards
Chef Ibrahim Dogus, founder of the British Kebab Awards and director of the recently formed Kebab Alliance
Tyneside restaurants are out to carve up the competition as they reach the semi-final stages of the British Kebab Awards – and members of the public can lend them a hand.
The Bake on Byker Bank in Newcastle has been long-listed in the category of best Lebanese restaurant while The Turknaz in Whitley Bay‘s North Parade shares the same honour in the best regional kebab shop category – and in doubly good news its chef Kudret Yilmaz also has been nominated for chef of the year.
In a further vote of confidence for the region’s food outlets, Kebab Centre in Middlesbrough’s Linthorpe Road is nominated as best regional takeaway.
And local people can help support their favourite kebab eateries as online voting is open now, ahead of a shortlist of 10 businesses being announced for each category by the beginning of July.
Winners of all 18 of the awards’ categories then will be revealed at a ceremony in London on October 26.
Other local nominees – in the awards’ supplier of the year category – are Yayla Enterprises in Blaydon and Istanbul Meats in Chester-le-Street.
The long-list announcement comes as boost for an industry which has faced such a challenging time during the pandemic.
The national awards, run in association with Just Eat and supported by the sector’s trade body Kebab Alliance, champion the efforts of local kebab takeaways and restaurants across the UK and, now in their ninth year, they attract big name sponsors.
Ibrahim Dogus, founder of the awards and director of the recently-formed Kebab Alliance,said: “Kebab eateries are a key part of the local community and it’s great to see so many entries at the end of a year that has tested every business operating in the hospitality sector.
“Getting to the semi-final is a real achievement given the competition across the country and all outlets should be rightly proud.”
While it is not yet known how this year’s awards ceremony will look, the event usually includes more than 1,200 guests, including cabinet ministers.
Among this year’s judges is Conservative Minister Nadhim Zahawi who said she was proud to be part of the event and added: “Recognising the UK’s thriving kebab restaurant and takeaway sector is very important.”
Other judges are Labour MP Carolyn Harris; assistant general secretary of Unite Steve Turner; SNP MP Angus Brendan MacNeil; Conservative MP David Warburton and David Galman from Galliard Homes.
Andrew Kenny, UK managing director of long-standing awards sponsor Just Eat, said: “Not only do the long-listed restaurants and takeaways serve fantastic food, they also offer a vital source of local jobs, bring diversity to our high streets and make a significant contribution to the UK economy – particularly important at the end of a challenging year.”
To cast a vote in the British Kebab Awards vote see here.
