Restaurant nets local food award

A NEW seafood restaurant in Ramsgate is fishing for top honours in a nationwide culinary contest.

Harvey's Fish Market and Oyster Bar, which opened less than two months ago following a £250,000 refit, is one of just 100 places to be nominated in Good Food Channel's search for a Local Food Hero.

The restaurant was shortlisted for owner Richard Martin and Michelin-starred development chef John Burton Race's work in championing locally caught Seafood.

Mr Martin, whose Kent Inns of Distinction firm also owns The Blazing Donkey near Sandwich, The Dog Inn at Wingham and Ivy House in Tonbridge,

said: ''I'm delighted to have received such an honour so quickly. We've proved the doubters wrong. Many people said that Ramsgate couldn't sustain a dedicated fish restaurant producing this level of cooking but we've certainly busy since day one."

The shortlisted restaurants will be narrowed down to just 30 restaurants, each of which will be visited by Market Kitchen presenter Matt Tebbutt or food critic Matthew Fort.

The overall winner of the TV competition will be announced live on Good Food Channel and receive a trophy and a cheque for £5,000. Regional winners will also be invited to appear on the show.

For more information or to make a booking at the Royal Harbour eatery, Telephone 01843 599707 or visit www.harveysoframsgate.com

Kent Restaurant Awards

Kent Restaurant Awards announced by OrderOnlineNow.co.uk

The Kent-based restaurant booking and takeaway ordering website, www.OrderOnlineNow.co.uk has launched the Kent Restaurant Awards.

The website features over 500 Kent restaurants and is used by up to 1500 dinners a month to make restaurant reservations and order takeaway meals.

Diners will be able to vote for their favourite establishments in up 12 categories: Best Takeaway; Best Bar/Café/Tearoom/Vegetarian; Best Indian; Best Oriental; Best French; Best Italian; Best English; Best International; Best Gastro Pub; Best Hotel Restaurant; Best Seafood and Best Gourmet.

Voters will have the chance to win a free meal for two at each of the category winners. Successful winning restaurateurs stand to win a generous array of prizes from sponsoring catering and restaurant supplies companies, in addition to a coveted Best Kent Restaurant Award.

“Despite being one of the most affluent areas of the country and surrounded by some of the finest farm produce, wild game and seafood, Kent restaurateurs have gained surprisingly few Michelin stars,” said OrderOnlineNow.co.uk MD Andrew Frisby, adding, “ Recently, however, there have been a number of high profile openings and there are a growing number of establishments whose cooking rivals some of the best in the country.

“The Awards are designed to recognise the improving culinary standards and encourage chefs to achieve even greater gastronomic achievements,” said Frisby.

Voting will be open from 12th August via www.KentRestaurantAwards.co.uk.

John Burton-Race

In May 2009, following the company’s expansion, John Burton-Race, author and Michelin-starred chef joined the company in a development role.

Following his time at Le Manoir aux quat’ saisons, he became head chef at Le Petit Blanc and then in 1986 opened his own restaurant L’Ortolan.

He later moved to John Burton Race at The Landmark Hotel where he was awarded two Michelin stars. In between regular training visits to each of the Kent Inns’ sites, John is based at The New Angel restaurant in Dartmouth today where his passion for amazing food is ever present.

“John’s passion for truly delicious food is why we recruited him” explained Sherry Martin. “His enthusiasm and hands-on approach makes him a valuable member of our team and makes it possible for us to continue improving the food offered at each of our restaurants”.