Marc-Pierre’s Kitchen in Ramsgate will be flying the flag for Thanet at the Taste of Kent Awards.
The restaurant, which is the only Thanet business to reach the finals this year, has been selected in the Kent Free From Business of the Year category.
The award is to recognise the role that Kent based retailers, producers and hospitality operators play for those customers with allergies and dietary needs.
Marc Pierre’s, in West Cliff Arcade, is headed up by Marc and Anastasiya Campos along with sous chef Abbie Aubrey.
And for Marc making sure dietary needs are catered for comes naturally as he is coeliac and also has a lactose intolerance. Abbie also has allergies and is vegan.
The result is an entirely gluten and nut free kitchen.
Marc, who opened the doors to the venture in October 2019, said: “We are unique in the fact that our kitchen is entirely gluten and nut free and also the only restaurant in Kent with allergen declaration and policy published on its website.
“It’s easy really because not only am I coeliac and have a lactose intolerance but I’m a specifically coeliac qualified chef and I only use fresh local ingredients that I can eat myself.”
Despite a winter opening, covid, Brexit and the cost of living crisis, Marc Pierre’s Kitchen has become a hotspot for people wanting to try out the ultra-local and fresh menu and this was boosted by gaining silver in last year’s Taste of Kent Awards in the casual dining category – a recognition of the quality of the menu which uses primarily Thanet, and some Kent-wide, suppliers, with a daily menu based on seasonal catch and produce.
Fish and seafood comes from Ramsgate and other east Kent suppliers, Nash Farm provides veg, Chandler & Dunn in Ash supply meat and beers from breweries including Gadds in Pysons Road.
Marc, who previously travelled the world as a professional golfer, is also a stockist from The Sporting Wine Club.
The Free From category is sponsored by Natural Resources Institute (NRI), University of Greenwich, which carries out specialist research, development and teaching with a focus on food, agriculture, environment, and sustainable livelihoods.
Susie Warran-Smith, from award organisers Produced in Kent, said: “As well as celebrating the amazing products of Kent, the Taste of Kent Awards (TOKA) has always celebrated businesses growing, selling and serving great food in Kent as well as those championing sustainability and the community.”
All finalists will be listed in the Taste of Kent Buyers Guide and invited to attend the evening awards ceremony taking place at the University of Kent in Canterbury on the June 13 following the TOKA Food and Drink Festival.
The TOKA Food and Drink Festival will be open to the public and trade. Attendees will have the opportunity to sample and buy food and drink products which have been shortlisted from up to 75 finalists.
The festival takes place between 1pm and 5.30pm on Thursday, June 13 at the Gulbenkian Arts Centre at The University of Kent. Tickets cost £6 in advance, £8 on the door and under 12’s are free. Tickets are available here.
Find out more at: https://tasteofkentawards.co.uk
Find Marc-Pierre’s Kitchen online here
EDIT: This article has been updated as there has been a change of chef at Marc-Pierre’s Kitchen