Four Ayrshire venues have been recognised at the annual Italian Awards.
Winners and highly recommended honours were dished out to businesses all over Scotland as the best of Italy’s cultural and food icons were honoured at a ceremony at the Hilton Doubletree in Glasgow on Sunday, December 1.
Renaldo’s Old Fashioned Ices and Aldente in Ayr as well as A Slice Pizzeria in Kilmarnock and Cecchini’s – who have restaurants in Ayr and Ardrossan – were all recognised on the night.
Linda and Silvio Galli of Renaldo’s were the big winners on the night as they took home the Outstanding Achievement award.
Renaldo’s were also highly recommended in the Best Family Run Business and Best Gelateria or Dessert Cafe categories.
Cecchini’s were highly recommended in the Best Team category while A Slice Pizzeria were highly recommended in the Best Pizzeria category and Aldente were highly recommended in the Best Past Chef category.
Warren Paul, CEO of events firm Paramount Creative who organised the awards, said: “Every year we bring together the very best of Italy right here in Scotland.
“Food, drink, hospitality, fun, family and that unmistakable touch of style are just some of the elements that make our finalists so special.
“At Paramount we have made recognising the best our mission and we take it very seriously, with strict judging protocols in place – so a win or highly commended honour is something you can trust.
“Our cook-off for the Best Pizza award has become a really big deal – putting people under pressure brings out the REAL best especially with our big name judges waiting to grill them too. Only the best.
“Scotland is now the home of the UK’s best pizza with Celino’s Glasgow named the Scottish winner following an incredibly competitive live cook off in front of our judges recently in a secret location.
“Not only that, Celino’s also brought the overall UK prize home, beating English champions Crust Liverpool to the title of the UK’s best pizza. Congratulations to Celino’s – the UK’s best pizza winners twice.
“Thank you to everyone in hospitality for another year of incredibly hard work taking care of us all.
“A special mention to the winners of two key honours – the Lifetime Achievement Award went to Tony Crolla of Vittoria Group and Outstanding Achievement went to Linda and Silvio Galli of Renaldo’s Ayr.
“Congratulations to all our winners, commended and finalists – and thanks for bringing the flavours and passions of Italy alive in Scotland.”
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