Peat Inn’s Geoffrey Smeddle scoops two Scottish Restaurant Awards

Michelin-starred chef Geoffrey Smeddle was named the big winner in this year’s Scottish Restaurant Awards, picking up two major accolades in the annual competition.

Smeddle was named Chef of the Year, beating Tom Kitchin and Ian McAndrew to the title, and also won the Restaurant of the Year category for his Michelin-starred Peat Inn near St Andrews, Fife, which he runs together with his wife Katherine.

Other winners included veteran chef-restaurateur Albert Roux, whose first Scottish restaurant Chez Roux at the luxury Rocpool Reserve hotel in Inverness picked up the Best Newcomer award.

Aileen MacKinnon, general manager of Rocpool Reserve and Chez Roux, said the award reflected the hard work of her team. “I would like to thank all the staff involved from the kitchens to the front of house and all those working hard behind the scenes,” she said.

The award for the Best Fine Dining Restaurant went to the Michelin-starred Restaurant Martin Wishart in Edinburgh, while Roy Brett’s restaurant Ondine at the city’s Missoni hotel was named Best Seafood Restaurant.

Charles Shaw, chairman of restaurant booking website 5pm, a supporter of the awards, said: “The culinary standard in Scotland gets better and better every year. 5pm.co.uk is delighted to support the recognition of these fantastic chefs and restaurateurs.”

The winners of the Scottish Restaurant Awards were:

Best Italian Restaurant - Osteria Piero, Glasgow

Best Indian Restaurant - Mother India, Edinburgh

Best Oriental Restaurant - Nanakusa, Glasgow

Best Specialty Restaurant - Calistoga Central, Edinburgh

Best Family Friendly Restaurant - Di Maggio's, Glasgow

Best Chef of the Year - Geoffrey Smeddle, Peat Inn, Fife

Best Fine Dining Restaurant - Restaurant Martin Wishart, Edinburgh

Best Pub Grub - The Kings Wark, Edinburgh

Best Urban Restaurant - Opus One Restaurant, Perth

Best Seafood Restaurant - Ondine, Edinburgh

Best Newcomer Restaurant - Rocpool Reserve Restaurant & Bar, Inverness

Best Hotel Restaurant - Ardeonaig Hotel & Restaurant, Perthshire

Best Rural Restaurant - Cail Bruich, Bridge of Weir

Best Customer Service - Hotel du Vin and Bistro, Glasgow

Healthy Workplace - Eurest/Scottish Power

Peat Inn near St Andrew – Menuwatch >>

Geoffrey Smeddle to take over Peat Inn >>

Mosque canteen shortlisted for Scottish Restaurant Awards >>

By Kerstin Kühn

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