Viva Cuba

Top restaurants rewarded at awards ceremony

Published Date: 16 March 2009

THE best restaurants and restaurant staff in Leeds and West Yorkshire have been recognised at an awards ceremony.
An audience of several hundred at the Oliver Awards saw Brasserie Blanc given the title of Best Restaurant in West Yorkshire.

Other winners at the event, organised by the Yorkshire Evening Post, included Restaurant Bar & Grill, The Olive Tree, Napa, Chino Latino, Aagrah, Kobe, Bird by Vineet, La Grillade, The Foundry, Viva Cuba and Saffron Desi. Individual winners included Angelo Plazzi, from Bibis and Luke Downing, from Dough.

For a full list of winners and pictures from the awards ceremony, don't miss the special supplement in Wednesday's Yorkshire Evening Post.

Source: EP Leeds First & County

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk

Deadline looms for Yorkshire dining out awards

Published Date: 20 October 2008

THERE'S still the chance of taking home a prestigious prize in the debut Oliver dining awards – but nominations close in four days time.

Following a late flood of entries the Yorkshire Evening Post has been forced to push back the deadline, so now restaurants, cafes and bars have until Friday to potentially secure a place at the awards ceremony which will take place at Leeds Town Hall in March.

A string of the city's top venues have already entered including Italian veteran Bibis, the widely acclaimed Sukothai as well as tapas favourite Viva Cuba and Nick's Brasserie.

And the latest big name to joing the list of hopefuls is Restaurant Bar and Grill of City Square. Now one of the biggest restaurants in Leeds, they came to the city two years ago and have already gained a massive profile.

A spokesman for RB&G said: "We're absolutely delighted to be taking part in this year's very first Oliver Awards and will be keeping our fingers crossed over the coming months.

"It has been an incredible two years for the business in Leeds and it's great to have been a part of the local dining scene which has simply boomed in recent times.

"We're very proud to be in a place where people demand high standards, not just in terms of food but also in terms of atmosphere, surroundings, service and value for money. Leeds is a competitive market for places to eat, but we relish the challenge and we're confident we've met expectations."

There are 16 categories to enter ranging from best cafe bar to best Indian, best chef to best newcomer and best fine dining restaurant to best place to grab lunch.

We're looking for entries in Leeds – both inside and outside the city centre – as well as further afield.

The Oliver Awards aim to recognise and celebrate the best talent from across the region ranging from venues serving light bites to purveyors of haute cuisine.

By Rod McPhee

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk

My Leeds Mark Catley

 
Published Date: 24 April 2006

Name: Mark Catley – I'm a writer for theatre and T.V
Where do you live? I was born in Beeston and now live in Armley.
Which is your favourite restaurant? The Thai restaurant Chaophraya is class, but Viva Cuba on Kirkstall Road is my fave. I like Japanese so Fuji Hiro and Little Tokyo are visited plenty.
Which is your favourite bar or club? The Reliance on North Street. Don't tend to go anywhere else these days although the few remaining pubs in the centre are worth a look at.
Where do you think is the best place to go for music? Used to be the now defunct Chocolate Factory in the early 90s, then the Underground behind the old Town and Country, then Elbow Rooms was good for the funk, but now it's early to bed and Classic FM! The fashionista and the townies present the two extremes of the Leeds nightlife, both parties I intend to avoid, I'd much rather find a quiet spot with some mates and have a natter.
What is your idea of shopping heaven? Just discovered the joy of Debenhams, so no need to trail around the Victoria Quarter/Corn Exchange getting ignored by the shop assistants any more! Borders is class though, can spend hours in there.
What is the best kept secret in Leeds? The walk from Armley to town via the canal is spot on, shame about Granary Wharf being deserted at the end of it, though. Leeds needs - if you could change one thing about the city, what would it be?
It needs to share the wealth, we've got all this investment and development going on in the centre but half a mile in any direction is depressing poverty, maybe the folk making all the coin might want to filter some through to the unfashionable punters on the outskirts.
But maybe I'll wake up and smell the Starbucks and realise the truth in the statement of the rich get richer while… Leeds City Council needs to start investing in people not property.
Which is the best view in Leeds? The view of the council: Leeds – Live it. Love it. Always makes me laugh, I'm with
Simon Armitage on this, it should read: Leeds – Like it. Lump it.

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk