[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]One of the first high street casualties of the pandemic lockdown was the restaurant and hospitality sector, as their doors were forced to close to diners for safety measures. However, as a truly resilient industry, chefs and their teams quickly adapted to ensure Northern Ireland foodies didn’t miss their fix of gourmet meals, with many establishments now offering takeaway and cook-at-home options.
This has radically changed the image and status of takeaway food in the last year, elevating it well beyond its traditional limits of pizza and Asian-inspired dishes. And that is what inspired Andrew Benson and his fiancé Aine O’Kane to create the first NI Takeaway Awards. They want to celebrate the food heroes behind the scenes who have battled against the odds to keep the sector alive in the most challenging circumstances.
“We have previously staged the highly successful NI Fish and Chip Shop Awards, but like everyone, we had to adapt to the new COVID-safe regulations. With everything going on at the minute and takeaways being on the front line, we feel this is the perfect platform and time for our excellent food vendors to shine and get the recognition they deserve. “Our local takeaways are the heartbeat of our high streets. From incredible Indians to perfect pizzerias, every town has its food heroes. We are recognising the dedication of local takeaways across a multitude of cuisines and celebrating their contribution to our economy,” Andrew Benson, managing director of AB Events, said.
The AB Events Team and a group of esteemed judges have been on a mission to find Northern Ireland’s favourite takeaways since the end of 2020.
With the finalists now selected, the competition is heating up ahead of the glittering gala awards ceremony scheduled for June in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast.
Tickets for the awards finale are now on sale, priced at £85 per person, including a 4- course meal drinks reception and an evening of entertainment.
For more information, visit www.nitakeawayawards.co.uk[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
