Big Names to Judge at This Year’s Taste Bar & Restaurant Awards

The second edition of the Taste Bar & Restaurant Awards in partnership with Heineken will take place on January 31st at Nairobi’s Karura Forest.

Behind the scenes, a group of food connoisseurs, chefs, beverage specialists and personas of note, have been tirelessly working together through workshops, tasting and evaluating their way through enviable task of selecting the nominees for the Taste Awards for 2013.

Led by decorated chef, Barry Tonks, and Heineken’s Patrick Mwangi, they represent traditional Kenya combined with the new and emerging generation, and the one thing they have in common? A passion for dining and entertainment. And they are committed to put Nairobi on the map. Check out the judges below.

Alix Grubel (Director of Content Kenya Buzz)
Anthony Gacheru (Business Leader – VISA)
Barry Tonks (Executive Chef – Hemingways Nairobi)
Brennen Matthews (Managing Editor – EA Destination)
Camille Richardson (Commercial Attache – US Embassy)
Caroline Mutuko (Programme Controller – Radio Africa Group)
Catherine Mathenge (Brand Manager – EABL)
Chris Foot (Media Personality)
Christian Caldara (Alliance Francaise)
Claire Low (Lakuku Kitchens)
Elsie Adewa (Communications Manager – Brand Kenya)
Fareed Khimani (Radio Presenter – XFM)
Fathiya A. Jeneby (Hospitality Consultant)
Gastro D’Nom (Food Critic – Saturday Nation)
Hishma Shah (Former Editor – Kenyan Kitchen)
Isis Nyong’o (VP Africa – InMobi)
Javed Kana (Editor – Asian Weekly)
Junnie Wangari (Senior Commercial Manager – Coca-Cola)
Karuiki Muki (Brand Manager – EABL)
Mikul Shah (Founder – Eat Out Kenya & SleepOut.com)
Mohammed Elamin (Brand Manager – Diageo Reserve Brands)
Neil McCarthy (Chef & Founder – Creative Kitchen)
Philippe Cauviere (Chef & Founder – WW Wine Shop & Bar)
Rand Pearson (Creative Director – UP Magazine)
Simon Hodson (F&B Manager – Hemingways Nairobi)
Susan Wong (Lifestyle Editor – Capital FM)

As with last year, the People’s Choice Taste Awards Categories provides each and every one of us the chance to make our own mark on Nairobi’s bar and restaurant scene by voting online.

Thousands have already voted since voting opened two weeks ago and there’s over Kss.h 250,000 of restaurant vouchers and hundreds of other prizes up for grabs. If you haven’t voted get on it at http://www.awards.co.ke