Mayve it is a Full English Breakfast that is needed to feed a raging hangover. Or perhaps it is the most family friendly dining or the punchiest cocktail that is urgently required. Whatever the first world dilemma, this year’s food award nominations have all avenues covered.

The shortlist for this year’s Brighton and Hove Food and Drink Awards includes an impressive five nominations for vegetarian restaurant Terre à Terre, for best food and drink producer, family dining, best restaurant, best place to do business, and food hero for founder Amanda Powling.

Meanwhile past winner Langlee’s cafe in York Place, is up for two awards, best breakfast and best cafe.

Newcomer restaurant-bakery-coffee house Silo has been nominated twice, as have ethical supermarket hiSbe, Hotel du Vin and The Basketmakers pub.

The blossoming cocktail scene sees three strong contenders in Cocktail Shack, Plotting Parlour and Twisted Lemon.

Last year’s new category best burger sees Burger Brothers, Coggings & Co and Trolls Pantry face off.

Those too lazy to go out can always plump for a takeaway with Chilli Pickle Canteen, Pizzaface and Burger Brothers nominated.

There is always plenty of competition and debate over for institution of best Sunday Lunch, with Earth & Stars, Breeze and Coal Shed making the shortlist.

A new category for 2015 is Young Chef of the Year, with Ione Fletcher of Twit Twoo Bakery, Isaac Bartlett-Copeland of Isaac At restaurant, and Johanna Trembley of 64 Degrees nominated.

And the Food Hero award is between Henry Butler, of Butler’s Wine Cellar, Michael Bremner of 64 Degrees and Seb Cole of Boho Gelato, as well as Terre à Terre founder Amanda Powling.

Nick Mosley, director of the Brighton and Hove Food and Drink Festival and awards organiser, said: “This year has seen a bumper year for the city’s food and drink awards, with more categories to vote for and more public nominations than ever before.

“It’s good to see new businesses popping up in the nominations, alongside some of the long-established names in independent food and drink.

“I’m particularly looking forward to seeing the results of our new Brighton & Hove Young Chef of the Year category, as there’s some amazing young talent in the city right now”.

Judges will be out for the next five weeks secret shopping or interviewing the top three finalists in each category, with the grand finals at Hotel du Vin on November 2.

The full shortlist:

• Best Breakfast – Joe’s Café, Langlee’s, V&H Café
• Best Burger – Burger Brothers, Coggings & Co, Trolls Pantry
• Best Café – Joe’s Café, Langlee’s, V&H Café
• Best Cocktail Bar – Cocktail Shack, Plotting Parlour, Twisted Lemon
• Best Family Dining – Breeze, Avenue, Terre à Terre
• Best Food / Drink Shop – Butler’s Wine Cellar, Hisbe, Infinity Food
• Best Food Pub – The Ginger Pig, The Basketmakers, The Prince George
• Best Place to Sleep – Artist Residence, Myhotel, Hotel du Vin
• Best Food / Drink Producer in the City -Boho Gelato, Brighton Gin, Terre à Terre
• Best Pub – Basketmakers, Lion & Lobster, Hand in Hand
• Best Restaurant – 64 Degrees, Terre à Terre, Food for Friends
• Best Sunday Lunch – Earth & Stars, Breeze, Coal Shed
• Best Takeaway – Chilli Pickle Canteen, Pizzaface, Burger Brothers
• Best Place to do Business – Hotel du Vin, Terre à Terre, Avenue
• Food Hero – Henry Butler, Amanda Powley, Michael Bremner, Seb Cole
• Best Newcomer -Eat Naked, Silo, The Set
• Sustainable Food Business – Silo, Hisbe, Infinity Food
• Young Chef the Year 2015 (aged 25 or under as of 31 August) – Ione Fletched (Twit Twoo Bakery), Isaac Bartlett-Copeland (Isaac At), Johanna Trembley (64 Degrees).

 

– Finn Scott-Delany, Newsquest