Cateys 2019: the 12 best Menuwatch entries revealed ahead of judging

**The complete set of restaurants to be judged for The Caterer's 2019 Menu of the Year Catey, sponsored by Teflon, has been revealed.

The 12 restaurants that will go forward to the judging made the cut after appearing in *The Caterer'*s Menuwatch feature between May 2018 and April 2019. They are:

May 2018 - July 2018
Flitch of Bacon
Hide
Smoke and Salt

August 2018 - October 2018
Clenaghans
Eckington
Inver

November 2018 - January 2019
Leroy
Native
Thompsons

February 2019 - April 2019
Alchemilla
Old Downton Lodge
The Cornish Arms

Judging will take place this Friday to establish a shortlist, which will be published next week, before the winner is revealed at the Cateys on 2 July 2019.

The menus are judged on innovation within the price bracket of that particular establishment or contract; good use of seasonal produce on the menu; creativity of the dishes being served; careful marrying of textures and flavours of the component ingredients; value for money; and, seeing the menu or selection of dishes, whether the judges would be tempted to eat there.

Last year, Xu in London's Soho won the award. The restaurant beat competition from the Blackbird in Berkshire, Pentonbridge Inn in Carlisle, Whatley Manor in Wiltshire, and Matt Worswick at the Latymer restaurant at Pennyhill Park hotel in Surrey.