CHUTNEY MARY CROWNED 'INDIAN RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR' AT THE LONDON RESTAURANT AWARDS 2003.
(10 March 2003)

Camellia Panjabi's restaurant 'Chutney Mary' was celebrating as it took home the Indian Restaurant of the Year Award while contemporary eaterie, Hakkasan won Oriental restaurant of the Year at this year’s Tio Pepe Carlton London Restaurant Awards at a star-studded night of entertainment held at Le Meridien Grosvenor House, Park Lane on Monday 10 March 2003.

However, a disappointing night for the fabulous Cyrus Todiwala, of The Parsee, shortlisted for the Academy of Excellence who missed out to the young pretender Jamie Oliver.

Gordon Ramsay, David Thompson and Giorgio Locatelli were among the other winners celebrating tonight. Ramsay – overlooked in previous years by the judging panel – first won the title of French Restaurant of the Year for Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, before being presented with the evening’s top accolade the Tio Pepe Carlton London Restaurant of the Year Award for the same restaurant.

While Oliver had to bite back his disappointment as the fabulous Thyme pipped Fifteen for the New Restaurant of the Year Award, he was bestowed with the Academy Award of Excellence title in acknowledgement for his expertise and commitment in encouraging and nurturing new talent in the industry

Outstanding London Chef Award went to David Thompson of Nahm, and Giorgio Locatelli’s Locanda Locatelli picked up Italian Restaurant of the Year. Other winners included Rules and Cambio de Tercio for British and Iberian Restaurant of the Year Awards respectively.

Outstanding Front of House Team - in recognition for the service team as a whole, was won by Oslo Court, and Bibendum was awarded Most Exceptional Restaurant Wine List.

It was a bitter sweet evening for Racine, J Sheekey and The Painted Heron, who were shortlisted for multiple categories, but who did not take home an award.

“There’s such fierce competition for the Awards, with over 6000 London restaurants vying for the coveted titles. To have reached the shortlist against such high standards of competition is an achievement in itself, and of course to go on to win an Award is hugely satisfying and deserving for all involved,” says Amanda Biddle, organiser at Carlton Television.

The Awards, established in 1996, were hosted by ITV’s Mary Nightingale.

WINNERS 2003

Indian Restaurant Of The Year
Winner: Chutney Mary

Short Listed:
Cinnamon Club, The Painted Heron, The Parsee, Ram’s, Red Fort

Oriental Restaurant Of The Year
Winner: Hakkasan

Short Listed:
ECapital, Nahm, Tsunami, Zuma

Italian Restaurant Of The Year
Winner: Locanda Locatelli

Short Listed:
Assaggi, Enoteca Turi, Passione, Sardo, Zafferano

British Restaurant Of The Year
Winner: Rules

Short Listed:
The Clerkenwell Dining Room, The English Garden, The Oak,
Richard Corrigan at Lindsay House, J Sheekey

Iberian Restaurant Of The Year
Winner: Cambio de Tercio

Short Listed:
Cigala, Eyre Brothers, Gaudi, Moro

French Restaurant Of The Year
Winner: Restaurant Gordon Ramsay

Short Listed:
Chez Bruce, L’Escargot, Picasso Room, Racine, La Trompette

Outstanding Front Of House Team
(This award is not so much for an individual front of house leader, as for the service team as a whole)

Winner: Oslo Court

Short Listed:
Almeida, Alwaha, The Capital, Racine, J Sheekey

Most Exceptional Restaurant Wine List
(This award is given for a well-balanced wine list that best matches style and cuisine of the restaurant whilst encouraging customers to expand their interest)

Winner: Bibendum

Short Listed:
The Capital, Chez Bruce, Club Gascon / Cellar Gascon, Fifth Floor at Harvey Nichols

New Restaurant Of The Year
(Opened between 1 June 2001 and 1 December 2002)

Winner: Thyme

Short Listed:
Fifteen, Locanda Locatelli, The Painted Heron, Racine

Outstanding London Chef
Winner: David Thompson (Nahm)

Short Listed:
Chris Galvin – Conran Restaurants; Henry Harris – Racine, Tong Che Hwee – Hakkasan, Bruce Poole – Chez Bruce, Gordon Ramsay – Restaurant Gordon Ramsay

Academy Award Of Excellence
(This year’s award is to acknowledge excellence in encouraging and nurturing new talent in the industry)

Winner: Jamie Oliver

Short Listed:
Raymond Blanc, Michael Bourdin, Gordon Ramsay, The Roux Brothers, Cyrus Todiwala

Outstanding Contribution To London Restaurants
(This is awarded to a person or supplier. There is no shortlist for this award)

Winners:

Randolph Hodgson - Neal’s Yard Dairy

Dan Lepard – Baker

Evening Standard / London Tonight Award
Winner: Vrisaki

Tio Pepe Carlton London Restaurant Of The Year
(The winner of this award is to be chosen out of the restaurants which win one of the 2003 awards)

Winner: Restaurant Gordon Ramsay

Top

Chutney Mary is located at The Plaza, 534 King’s Road, London SW10 0SZ. Tel: 020 7351 3113.

Click here for the London Restaurant Awards 2003 shortlist.