The first award for hospitality excellence created in honour of legendary Scottish chef Andrew Fairlie has been won by Dumfries House, the 18th-Century Ayrshire country mansion and estate rescued and redeveloped by Prince Charles.
Fairlie, who died in January after a long battle with a brain tumour, was Scotland's only double Michelin Star holder for his restaurant at the five-star Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire.
It was presented by Andrew Fairlie's widow Kate at a dinner attended by some 500 guests in Glasgow last night (Thursday).
Chair of the Advisory Board, Andrea Nicholas, said: "Andrew was unequivocal about using the word 'excellence' in the CIS Awards' name and only accepting and judging entries which lived up to the term. Dumfries House encapsulates all that. It has become a symbol of excellence in hospitality, hosting hundreds of events, as well as in education, training and restoration, and inspiring a new generation to enjoy hospitality and the outdoors."
Fairlie, the inaugural winner of the Roux Scholarship in 1983 and described by this year's judges as a visionary genius, was himself presented with the CIS Awards' Lifetime Excellence Award in 2017. This year, the same award was made to Albert Roux senior OBE, KFO.
The Chef of the Year Award went to Fred Berkmiller , Chef-Proprietor of the L'Escargot Bleu and L'Escargot Blanc restaurants in Edinburgh. It was a case of third time lucky as he was a finalist in the category in 2016 and 2018. Judges described him as "driven by excellence and tradition, and passionate about the provenance and sourcing of local and sustainable ingredients."
Restaurant of the Year was Stefano Pieraccini's Seafood Ristorante overlooking St. Andrews Bay. The judges praised the "quality and delivery of a superbly cooked local menu" and said Head Chef Davey Aspin's team "worked as one cohesive unit to deliver a true fine dining experience."
Glenapp Castle at Ballantrae in South Ayrshire was named best Independent Hotel. Transformed from a Victorian ruin by the Stranraer-based McMillan family, the 17-bedroom Glenapp is now owned by London financier Paul Szkiler and is about to launch a safari boat service to take guests to the Hebridean islands. Group Hotel of the Year was won by the Glasgow Hilton.
Full results:-
Employee of the Year Award sponsored by Fresh Food Company
Stephen King, Uisge Bar and Restaurant, Murthly, Perthshire
Runners-up:
Rory MacAleece, Ibis Styles Glasgow and Glasgow West (Maven Capital Partners)
Terry McBeth, Doubletree by Hilton, Glasgow
The Sustainable Business Award sponsored by Green Tourism and Keenan Recycling
BaxterStorey in partnership with City of Glasgow College
Fairmont St Andrews
Runner-up:
BaxterStorey Scotland in conjunction with Royal Bank of Scotland
The Healthier Scotland Award sponsored by the healthylivingaward in association with NHS Health Scotland
The Usual Place, Dumfries
Runners-up:
Aramark - Scotland Team
BaxterStorey at City of Glasgow College
The Training and Employee Retention Award sponsored by caterer.com
City of Glasgow College and Caledonian MacBrayne
Runners-up:
Fazenda Rodizio Bar and Grill, Edinburgh
Sonas Hospitality, Isle of Skye
The Pub Excellence Award sponsored by KraftHeinz Foodservice
Lord of the Isles, Craobh Haven, Argyll
Runners-up:
The Crinan Hotel by Lochgilphead
The Crown and Kitchen, East Linton, East Lothian
The Horseshoe Inn, Eddleston
The Banqueting and Events Chef Award sponsored by ASA Recruitment and Tilda
Alan Boslem, Big Bite Catering, Airdrie
Runners-up:
Scott Brodowski, Hickory, Edinburgh
James Burton, Ginger Snap & Food Design, Edinburgh
The Restaurant Newcomer Award sponsored by Kafoodle and Sodexo
Edinbane Lodge, Isle of Skye
Runners-up:
The Little Chartroom, Edinburgh
The Lookout by Gardener's Cottage, Edinburgh
North Harbour Bistro, Isle of Harris
The Food Tourism Award sponsored by Seafood Scotland
Cannonball Restaurant and Bar, Edinburgh
Runners-up:
Aberdeen International Airport
Rufflets Hotel, St Andrews
The Hospitality Educator of the Year Award sponsored by Inspire Catering
Steph Tanner, Edinburgh College and Allison Kennedy, City of Glasgow College
Runner-up:
Ian Pirrie, Edinburgh School of Food and Wine
The Independent Hotel of the Year Award sponsored by Tetley Foodservice
Glenapp Castle, Ballantrae
Runners-up:
The Allanton Inn, Duns
Cavens Country House Hotel, Kirkbean, Dumfries
The Dunstane Houses, Edinburgh
The Patisserie Chef of the Year Award sponsored by Callebaut
Shona Sutherland, Taystful, Blairgowrie
Runners-up:
Ian Baillie, Tantrum Doughnuts, Glasgow
Gerard Chouet, Restaurant Andrew Fairlie, Gleneagles Hotel
The Group Hotel of the Year Award sponsored by Bruce Stevenson Brokers and Instock
The Hilton, Glasgow
Runners-up:
Sandman Signature Aberdeen Hotel
Waldorf Astoria, Edinburgh
The Young Chef of the Year Award sponsored by Brakes Scotland
Jordan Clark, Pennygate Lodge, Mull
Runners-up:
Jamie Deans, Deans Restaurant, Perth
Ewan Jones, Cafe St Honore, Edinburgh
Ross McLaren, CH&Co at Baillie Gifford, Edinburgh
The Restaurant of the Year Award sponsored by Pelican Procurement
The Seafood Ristorante, St Andrews
Runners-up:
Barley Bree Restaurant with Rooms, Muthill, Crieff
Le Roi Fou, Edinburgh
The Chef of the Year Award sponsored by BaxterStorey Scotland
Fred Berkmiller, L'Escargot Restaurants, Edinburgh
Runners-up:
Jerome Henry, Le Roi Fou, Edinburgh
Praveen Kumar, Tabla Indian Restaurant, Perth
Paul Wedgwood, Wedgwood the Restaurant, Edinburgh
The Lifetime Achievement Award co-sponsored by Braehead Foods and City of Glasgow College
Albert H Roux, OBE, KFO
The Andrew Fairlie Excellence Award
Dumfries House, Cumnock, Ayrshire
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