Nescafé Gold Spot Awards: Seekingthe top culinary destinations

MANILA, Philippines - So many restaurants, so little time – and you’re getting too famished to spend a lot of time looking for the best. The best way to take your pick is to check out the list of finalists to the Nescafé Gold Spot Awards, which honors the best dining places in Metro Manila.

Aside from visiting popular places and hotspots in the country, what local travelers and foreign visitors always search for is good food. However, people’s gastronomic cravings and needs change each year.

Today, people consider a number of factors before choosing where to dine – the quality of service, the ambiance, and the type of cuisine being served, among many others. With so many dining places to choose from, it is sometimes inevitable for people to have a difficult time selecting the restaurant that would best suit their present needs and cravings.

The Nescafé Gold Spot Awards is able to provide food enthusiasts, travelers, and casual diners alike with a virtual guide of the top food destinations in Metro Manila.By highlighting the top dining places in the city through an online nomination process done by the public, the Nescafé Gold Spot Awards helps people have an easier time in choosing their ideal food destinations and at the same time, giving them a free hand in selecting which restaurant deserves the nod.

“Nescafé Gold Spot Awards has positioned itself as a prestigious award-giving body that not only highlights the best restaurants in the Metro but also empowers the public to have a hand in recognizing these dining places for their quality of service and food they serve,” says Myrza Sison, editor-in-chief of spot.ph.

With 13 awards categories such as Best Buffet and Best Filipino Restaurant, among others, the Nescafé Gold Spot Awards is like a virtual tour of the finest dining destinations in the Metro.

Last year’s Nescafé Gold Spot Awards gave rise to an impressive list of top food destinations that fully satisfied the people’s palate and provided them with a unique gastronomical experience. Which among them will reemerge as a premiere food destination this year?

Sugi (Best Japanese Restaurant)- Widely regarded as the best Japanese restaurant in Makati, Sugi’s contemporary feel and authentic yet innovative dishes proved to be the difference in last year’s Nescafé Gold Spot Awards. It is touted as one of the heavyweights in this year’s awards

Gloria Maris (Best Chinese Restaurant)- The luxurious yet highly reliable Chinese restaurant continues to provide the tastiest and most satisfying Chinese dishes in hearty servings in the country. It is set to defend its title in this year’s awards against a number of rising Chinese-themed dining places.

Aristocrat (Best Filipino Restaurant)- Nothing beats a dining place that serves homegrown recipes and last year, Aristocrat emerged as the top destination for quality Filipino dishes. But will it once again bag the title as the Best Pinoy restaurant in this year’s Nescafé Gold Spot Awards?

Mickey’s Delicatessen (Best Delicatessen)- Well-known as the only authentic German restaurant in the country, Mickey’s Delicatessen is also famous for serving fine wine, home-made sausages and other deli. It’s a top destination for people who like to explore new tastes and is also one of the top contenders for this year’s awards in the same category.

22 Prime (Best Steak House)- Housed in the Discovery Suites, 22 Prime is an ideal destination for lovers of excellent quality meat such as USDA-certified prime steaks and for people who have high-end tastes in general. But as more steakhouses continue emerge, it’s mettle will surely be tested in this year’s Nescafé Gold Spot Awards.

Miss Desserts (Best Dessert Place)- A dessert is always the perfect way to finish any meal and Miss Desserts emerged as the perfect destination for sweet lovers in last year’s Nescafé Gold Spot Awards. With its wide selection of cakes that are made with just the right amount of sweetness, it’ll be one of the dessert places to watch out for in this year’s awards.

Embassy Superclub (Best Bar)- Embassy has emerged as a posh and one of the hippest clubs to be in when one would like to simply unwind or dance away to the grooviest music while enjoying fine food and beverages. But other clubs and bars that continue to spread across the country are not too far behind and could challenge Embassy for the Best Bar nod.

Cibo (Best Italian and Best Overall Service)- Cibo emerged as the big winner in last year’s Nescafé Gold Spot Awards and is considered a major favorite heading into this year. Its modern casual ambiance, its distinct industrial design, and not to mention its wide selection of delicious and authentic Italian recipes could again give other restaurants a run for their money.

New to Nescafé Gold Spot’s selection on of top food destinations this year are the People’s Choice categories, namely the Best Restaurant Chain and Best Service awards; and the Panel’s Choice categories, which are New Restaurant of the Year and Restaurant of the Year.

In this year’s awards, the nominations process will be done through online nomination in order to create a master list of restaurants. From the master list, the judges will create a shortlist of nominees that will be voted upon by the public and the judges.

For the cuisine categories, the public and judges vote will have 50 percent weight each. In the People’s Choice categories, the public’s vote will have 100 percent weight while in the Panel’s choice categories, the judges’ vote will have 100 percent weight.

This year’s prestigious search for the top food destinations also include a credible panel of judges that include Chef Aileen Anastacio, host of Qtv’s “ True Confections” and Chef of Goodies and Sweets; Becky Kho, Yummy magazine editor-in-chief; Franco of tableforthreeplease.com, 2009 Best Food and Beverage Blog of the Philippine Blog Awards; Chef Him Uy de Baron of Chef Cuisine Catering Company; JJ Yulo, food writer and “food obsessive;” and Cherie Gil, award-winning actress and foodie.

“With the help of our expert panel of judges and spot.ph’s loyal readers, we are looking forward to an exciting new lineup of the best dining spots in the city through what we’re aiming to make the gold standard in restaurant awards,” says Sison.

Only in its second year, the Nescafé Gold Spot Awards promises to give a grander and stiffer competition among restaurants this year and to provide the public with a virtual map of the best dining destinations in the Metro.For more information, log on to http://www.spot.ph/goldspot.