Eating and drinking

Welcome to Guernsey, where islanders have an enduring passion ­for food. Norman roots and a cosmopolitan seafaring heritage combine with the perfect gardening climate, bountiful ocean and arguably the best milk in the world to make this a paradise for eating and drinking.

The Good Food Guernsey site is an online celebration of the islands’ vibrant food culture. From local ingredients to traditions, through tips, recipes and events, it’s a mouth-watering menu of all that’s best in local cuisine.

APRIL IN GUERNSEY - RESTAURANT AWARDS 2005

Throughout the month of April the islands finest restaurants competed for eight prestigious annual awards and put together special competition menus featuring the islands natural ingredients.

On Friday 29th April the results were announced and awards were presented to the winners

There were four prizes for individual dishes, dishes that stood out from the crowd:

• Best Starter
• Best Main Course
• Best Dessert
• Best Seafood Dish - To celebrate Guernseys love affair with the sea and as 2005 is year of the sea

Best Starter

LA BARBARIE - for their Pan Fried Scallops and Monkfish Tail with Chilli Salt Belly of Pork and Spinach Rocket Salad
Comments from judges: Superb. The flavours mixed really well and inspired me to look the next day to try and imitate the tastes.

Best Main Course

CAFE DU MOULIN - for their Brill Fillet poached in coconut milk with watercress coulis and raspberry jam.
Comments from judges: Simple ingredients, perfect presentation, cooked perfectly

Best Dessert

THE PAVILION - for their Chocolate Tart, chocolate and Chilli Ice-Cream
Comments from judges: Almost looked too good to eat! Tart was smooth and very rich. Fabulous ice-cream - just a little 'kick' from the chilli. This has come from a real pastry chef!

Best Seafood Dish

CHRISTIES RESTAURANT - for their Roast Seafood Platter and Saffron Risotto
Comments from judges: Roasting four different fish was simple but worked well. Not over complicated - fish left to enjoy for its own flavour.

Good Food Guernsey main awards - the four overall winners

The categories were:

• Ethnic Restaurants
• Cafes Brasseries and Bistros
• Restaurants within Hotels
• Stand Alone Restaurants

Ethnic Restaurants

The winner: NO 44
Comments from judges: Would absolutely go back, myself and my guests agreed the meal was exceptionally good. I eat Indian food at least once every week - this was one of the best Indian meals I have enjoyed in Guernsey for some time. I will go back and gladly part with my own cash!

Cafes Brasseries and Bistros

The winner: THE COURTYARD BRASSERIE AT OATLANDS
Comments from judges: Everything cooked to perfection. Starter of seared scallops - faultless. Main course of roast lamb - surprisingly good. Sweet of vanilla pannecotta - well presented - perfect. We were very impressed and felt the chef was going out of his way to prove he was capable of a 1st class meal. We came away almost without anything negative to say, which is a rare occasion. We would recommend the restaurant to anyone.

Restaurants within Hotels

The Winner: COBO BAY HOTEL
In the judges words for the winning establishment: The hotel was very busy entertaining a wedding party as well as a full restaurant but service and quality did not suffer. The staff understood what was required. This was an extremely polished performance by professional caterers. At one stage I thought "my cover had been blown" because of the attention and quality of food but am now convinced this was not the case. An excellent example of Guernsey cuisine.

Stand Alone Restaurants

The winner LESCALIER
Comments from judges: This was an extremely enjoyable eating experience I eagerly awaited the arrival of each course. The foie gras was superbly tasteful and smooth - the rhubarb sorbet was a pleasing change to the usual offering of something citrus and tarter. The lamb was succulent and tasteful. The effort and flair displayed would encourage me to eat here again.

Good Food Guernsey would like to thank all Restaurateurs, Hoteliers, Chefs, and all staff for competing and supporting what we consider to be a great event

View menus for the Restaurant Awards 2005

ALE AND FOOD FESTIVAL

Guernsey's Ale and Food Festival will take place between 3rd and 18th September 2005, coinciding with the Battle Of Britain Week air display and Walking Week, as well as the C I Traders Guernsey Regatta Week. The Ale and Food Festival will take place throughout Guernsey with great ales on offer and some participating pubs offering beer dishes.

SEA FOOD FESTIVAL AND FAIR

Throughout July enjoy the very best fresh seafood the Island has to offer, while the focal point is an eight-day seafood fair, La Fete de La Mair, in the islands capital, St Peter Port. The Seafood Festival and Fair is especially significant in the year of SeaGuernsey 2005. The fair is based on an exciting new format, featuring local chefs and harbour-side dining. Open from 12 until 10.30 with live music lunchtime, tea time and evening.

Daily the Moreau Chablis seafood culinary challenge and local chefs will be cooking off local seafood dishes compared by our very own local celebrity chef Gerry Allen.

Friday 8th July will see a seafood extravaganza dinner with a menu prepared and cooked by TV celebrity chef Brian Turner. we expect this to sell out fast with booking advisable via the main Christies restaurant in St Peter Port Tel: 726624

For the month long festival local hotels and restaurants are being encouraged to produce a special menu for the month, containing only the very best of the local catch, prepared and presented to impress the most discerning palette.

TENNERFEST

Taking place between 1st October and 11th November 2005, the Channel Island Tennerfest returns again with many mouth-watering menus on offer from just 10 pounds. 2004 saw over 170 restaurants in Guernsey, Jersey and Alderney taking part. Island hopping is also made easy with some great ferry and flight deals. A special newspaper is distributed island wide in late September with all menus which can also be viewed on the website at www.tennerfest.com

Thanks to the Guernsey Tourist Board for supplying the above information.