Uganda can be defined as a place to get culinary adventure. Be it local dishes, continental, Asian, it is all served somewhere. A new idea to reward restaurants has come up and the gala night is on at Kampala Serena Hotel, Victoria Ball room on the November 25. The announcement was made at a press briefing at Cooper Chimney Restaurant, off Lugogo by-pass, in Kampala on Tuesday evening.
The Kampala Restaurant Awards (KRA) will be an annual fete. Hello Food and Done Deal are online platforms that offer deals and discounts, and were the flagship sponsors.
The Managing Director, Done Deal Iliana Björling said they were excited to see that the Kampala Restaurant Awards provide a benchmark for the industry, and hopefully accelerate the evolving food culture in Uganda and East Africa.
The awards will recognise achievements and excellence in the restaurant and hospitality industry in Kampala, in 15 categories.
However, organisers are looking at mostly high-end hangouts which prompted a question: “Why aren’t kafundas not included on the list?” Kafundas are make-shift or temporal places where we enjoy steaming hot local food or muchomo. Many times the experiences enjoyed in Kafundas are priceless compared to the high-end restaurants where customer care is almost alien.
Well, one of the categories is customer care. Restaurants will also be contending for accolades like Restaurant of the Year, Best Value for Money, Best Indian Cuisine, Best Ugandan Cuisine, Best Asian Cuisine, Best of Africa, Best Newcomer, Best Beer, and Best Winery, among other categories.
Organisers might also consider thinking about introducing categories that recognise and reward waiters, waitresses and chefs for being the stars behind what is being judged.
At the event will be wine tasting, celebrity cook-offs, blind food tasting and eating competitions. The general public and a panel of expert judges will choose the winners from each category.
The KRA 2015 panel of expert judges is a combination of food lovers, food critics, and experts in in the restaurant and hospitality industry.
The public can vote online at http://www.kampalarestaurantawards.ug. Each voter will be able to cast one vote a day per category.
Beyond the awards, revellers will also experience the wide food culture Kampala has to offer. The general public and a panel of expert judges will choose the winners from each category.