Creativity on the menu as culinary competition hots up

Creativity on the menu as culinary competition hots up

THE search is on across restaurants and takeaway shops throughout the region to find the best menus in the North East, following the launch of a major competition.

Digital firm just-Menus.com has set the challenge to chefs and culinary business owners to prove they have a flair for design as well as in the kitchen. Instead of the usual competitions for restaurants which are based on the content of the menu, just-Menus.com will be judging on the actual design of the menu.

The Newcastle-based business, which acts as an online guide and listings service for people eating in or out in the North East, is offering competition winners free membership to its service until the London 2012 Olympics.

By that time, the site is expected to have been launched in 20 additional languages and rolled out across the UK to coincide with the influx of sports fans and athletes into the country from all over the world.

The company is looking for the best menu designs in Carlisle, Darlington, Durham, Newcastle, Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Richmond and York.

The winner of each town or city's competition will be judged by just-Menus.com founder Alex Redpath and special guest judge Stuart Short of Shorts Associates.

Mr Redpath said: "We are offering the best food businesses in the North East the chance to explore their creativity as well as the opportunity to be part of something that could significantly boost their profile and reputation.

"We are looking for something unique that offers far more originality than the standard menu design and really stands out from the crowd, which is artistically pleasing yet readable."

As well as winning free listings on the just-Menus.com site, winners will receive an award and a web page dedicated to their business.

just-Menus.com was launched last year by Northumbria University student Mr Redpath with the aim of keeping diners informed of all eating places while being environmentally friendly. The site hosts hotel, restaurant and takeaway contact details plus local taxi numbers alongside menus thus helping to minimise the need to print and distribute menus to customers.

Although the firm is currently North East-focused, ahead of the London Olympics, it is expected to be expanded to cater for towns and cities across the country.

To enter the competition entries should be sent to menus@just-menus.com or posted to just-Menus.com, PO Box 80, Darlington, Co Durham, DL1 5YH. Closing date for entries is 15 February 2010.

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