Stonegate Pub Company has secured two awards at the Menu Innovation & Development Awards (MIDAS); Slug & Lettuce picked up the award for best menu in the Premium High Street Pub category and Walkabout’s menu was voted the best for a Town & City Pub. The winners were announced at a glittering ceremony and dinner held at the Amba Hotel in London last week (14th March).
Founded in 2008, the MIDAS awards recognise and reward the outstanding creative talents of the UK’s leading food and menu development managers and group executive chefs in the casual dining sector.
A team of mystery diners and judges, with experience of multi-unit disciplined menu operations, chose the winners in each of the 27 categories. Menus were judged on their creativity and appeal; the variety of dishes; value for money; innovation and relevance to the current market.
Slug & Lettuce’s menu has something for everyone. With a great value Set Menu and Signature Menu as well as breakfast, buffet and afternoon tea options, customers can also choose from sharing platters, low-calorie options and lots of vegan and vegetarian treats.
Walkabout, meanwhile, offers ‘Awesome Aussie food and drink’, with dishes such the Aussie All Dayer (sausages, eggs, chips and beans), a BBQ Sharing Platter ‘straight from the barbie’ and even a ‘Roo’ Burger, a kangaroo burger served with salsa.
The representatives of each of the successful operators, along with a member from the category sponsor, will enjoy a five-day research and insight tour with the Menu Innovation Network’s in Chicago later this year.
Kevin Steppe, Director Of Food at Stonegate Pub Company, said: “We’re very proud; this is the first time we have won two MIDAS awards! It is a testament to our continued focus on food quality provided by our fantastic development and operations teams.”