The Vegetarian Society last week presented Lee Gaskins (Head Chef of the Terrace Restaurant and Northamptonshire Chef of the Year) and his team with a Local Organisation Hero Award due to their efforts during National Vegetarian Week 2012. The award was presented for the impressive menu created especially for the Vegetarian Evening held at the Terrace Restaurant at UK meeting venue Highgate House.
The Terrace Restaurant, which is open for bookings every day, is located at TripAdvisor’s Number One Hotel in Northampton,Highgate House. The restaurant, run by Head Chef Lee Gaskins, has been named finalist for Restaurant of the Year 2011 and winner of Chef of the Year 2011 in the Northamptonshire Food & Drink Awards.
As part of National Vegetarian Week, from 21st to 27th May, nearly 300 events around the country were held to celebrate the UK’s annual awareness-raising campaign promoting inspirational vegetarian food and the benefits of a meat-free lifestyle. From small, independent businesses to large high-profile brands, the week saw promotions, discounts, offers, celebrations and events to celebrate the very best of vegetarian cuisine. The Local Organisation Hero award is given to those who have made an exceptional effort to celebrate the Week. The winners in this category receive a special trophy, a hamper full of vegetarian goodies and the right to boast about their brilliant achievement!
This is the third time this event has been held at the Terrace Restaurant and as an organisation member of the Vegetarian Society, it strives to show an involvement with the Society and the National Vegetarian Week by hosting events with a focus on fresh vegetarian food. This year it produced a stunning menu with 15 vegetarian options available. Locally, the Terrace Restaurant is known for offering fantastic value-for-money, serving delicious three-course meals. It specialises in first-class, freshly prepared cuisine, using the highest quality ingredients including Free-Range local eggs, British meat, sustainable fish and local, seasonal produce.
Lee Gaskins, Head Chef at the Northamptonshire conference hotel was delighted with the prestigious award and commented, “National Vegetarian Week provides us with a fantastic opportunity to roll out a purely vegetarian menu and we thrive on the challenge given to us to provide a varied and inspired menu. The fresh local produce used using local and seasonal produce in a menu is an ideal way of ensuring that the meals served at the Terrace Restaurant are unique to our venue and to Northamptonshire”, he continued, “To gain this award for our efforts is a great achievement and we strive to offer our customers creative and fresh vegetarian options on all of our menus, from Roast Butternut Squash, Sweet Potato & Red Pepper Risotto to Wild Mushroom & Asparagus Wellington.”
