Cocina takes Restaurant of the Year title for the second year running
Cocina at Casa Hotel has taken the top title in the Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards for the second year running.
The 2 Rosette, 4-star restaurant was one of 13 winners announced at the town’s fourth annual Food and Drink Awards, which were held on Wednesday 26 October at Chesterfield College’s Heart Space Building.
Judges described their dining experience at Cocina as ‘a great experience and a fantastic meal. The professional staff offered good customer service. Food was presented with flare and creative style that worked well and the menu was innovative with great choice.’
In addition to the prestigious Chesterfield Restaurant of the Year title the four-star hotel, which is owned by local entrepreneur Steve Perez, also scooped the Conference Venue of the Year title at the glittering awards ceremony.
Other winners to retain their title at the 2016 Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards include, Delhi 41 which has been Best International Restaurant of the Year in 2014. 2015 and 2016, and The Red Lion Bar and Bistro at Peak Edge Hotel which retained its Gastro Pub of the Year title for a second year running.
Simon Davidson of R P Davidson cheese Factor took the coveted Food Hero title at this year’s awards. Simon joined the family business based in Chesterfield Market Hall 30 years ago after leaving the army. He remains there today where he now runs the business and is a familiar face and voice on the market as well as in the town.
In total 14 food and drink establishments, producers and individuals were named as Chesterfield’s finest at the sell-out awards ceremony hosted by celebrity chef and couture cake maker to royalty and the stars, Mich Turner.
Mich Turner said: “There is clearly a cornucopia of food talent in Chesterfield, and the Food and Drink Awards brought us a banquet! I was thrilled to see the emerging taskforce in the town’s food and drink sector actively involved in the awards ceremony as well as those who have established family businesses. What a wonderful awards ceremony – an inspiration and celebration of the past, present and future.”
Organised by Destination Chesterfield, in association with Chesterfield College, more than 100 hospitality students prepared and served the food on the evening for 250 guests at the events which, once again, was a complete sell-out.
Stuart Cutforth, Principal of Chesterfield College said: “The Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards are a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the talent and commitment that goes into making our local gastronomic industry great. Every year this celebration helps us to inspire our catering and hospitality students and apprentices to become future award winners. Their involvement in competing for young chef of the year or cooking and serving guests at the event allows them to showcase what they are capable of to the best employers in the area.”
Organiser of the awards Dominic Stevens, Destination Chesterfield Manager, said: “Once again the Food and Drink Awards were a runaway success. This year we had more nominations than previous years and also more businesses put forward for the awards, which is testament to Chesterfield’s food and drink scene. The support across Chesterfield has been phenomenal, with people keen to see the town, and the businesses and people working within its hospitality sector succeed and grow.”
Check out the full list of winners
