Awards on the menu for two Thurso restaurants at major industry event
Bydand and Pride of Bengal restaurants in Thurso were winners at The 2nd Scottish Restaurant Awards 2023 in Glasgow on Monday.
Together with several other Scottish restaurants they received awards in specific categories with Bydand winning 'European Restaurant of the Year' and Pride of Bengal Indian Restaurant and Takeaway winning 'Bangladeshi Restaurant of the Year' at the prestigious event in Glasgow's Marriott Hotel.
Brian Gordon, owner-chef of Bydand, attended the event with his wife Angela and said: "We are delighted! It's great to get some positivity in these times of rising energy, produce and interest rates."
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3 / 3He added: "We also are proud to have been the very first produce purchaser from Socially Growing as we start a collaboration with Sharon Dismore to buy the community's beautiful produce to utilise within Bydand. Her passion for growing and my passion for cooking will yield great offerings for the local community and visitors alike.
"She is allowing me to treat her greenhouses like my private garden. It's great to put items on the menu freshly harvested that day. We weigh each variety and I pay the going rate. It's a brilliant collaboration and it's been a great week overall."
Lydia Hossain said on behalf of Pride of Bengal: "The guys work so hard, 7 days a week and 365 days a year for their customers. They are so proud to be part of such a community and to call Thurso/Caithness their home.
"Zakir, Abs and all the staff at Pride of Bengal are delighted to receive the Bangladeshi Restaurant of the Year award and cannot emphasise enough their appreciation to all of our customers for their loyalty and faith they have in our local business since it opened in 2015. We are truly humbled and would like to thank all of our customers from near and afar for their generous custom."
The prestigious event, held on Monday (July 3) at Glasgow Marriott Hotel, brought together renowned chefs, industry professionals, and food enthusiasts to honour the "exceptional talent and outstanding establishments across Scotland".
With an overwhelming number of nominations pouring in from all corners of the country, the competition was fierce. The awards showcased the breadth and depth of Scotland's gastronomic offerings, celebrating excellence in various categories, from fine dining to street food.
A spokesperson for The Scottish Restaurant Awards said: “These awards serve as a platform to highlight the outstanding contributions of restaurants and individuals who play a vital role in shaping Scotland's vibrant food scene. By acknowledging their achievements, we aim to inspire continued innovation, collaboration, and growth within the industry.
“We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the winners and finalists of The 2nd Scottish Restaurant Awards 2023. Their commitment to excellence has undoubtedly raised the bar for the Scottish culinary landscape.”