#FtLionAwards 2022 Beverage of the Year shortlist
Having visited some of the best restaurants in Birmingham, Manchester, and Bradford during three memorable food tours in 2022, this has been a defining year for FtLion.
2016: Nine7One (Dubai), Darbaar (London)
2017: Grand Trunk Road (London)
2020: Maison Bab (London)
2021: Heritage, Colonel Saab, Ramo (London)
The UK’s Halal food and drinks scene is evidently on an upward curve, suggested by the fact that while we’ve rated only seven restaurants a perfect 5/5 since 2016, three of those alone came last year.
And this year, we have by far the country’s leading fully Halal premium beverage company, Azanti – Sober Lifestyle, returning to once again sponsor the #FtLionAwards 2022.
15% OFF: In addition to Azanti offering 15% off all products on their website (excluding Espora Gold; use code ‘feedthelion’ at checkout) for the month of December, they’re also putting up a fantastic prize too…
COMPETITION: Win Azanti beverages…
For all those who participate via our Instagram and Facebook pages in voting for their favourites, you’ll be in with the chance of winning: 1x Pierre Zero Sparkling White & 4x Smashed Berry Fruit Cider.
To qualify: 1) Follow & like Azanti on Facebook and Instagram; 2) vote for any of the following nominees on our Facebook and/or Instagram page (the more votes, the greater the chance of being chosen at random and announced on 1st Janurary 2023).
- Beverage of the Year (1 Dec 2022)
- Starter of the Year (4 Dec 2022)
- Veggie of the Year (7 Dec 2022)
- Main of the Year (10 Dec 2022)
- Seafood of the Year (13 Dec 2022)
- Burger of the Year (15 Dec 2022)
- Grill of the Year (18 Dec 2022)
- Dessert of the Year (21 Dec 2022)
- Newcomer of the Year (25 Dec 2022)
- Restaurant of the Year (28 Dec 2022)
- Winners (1st Jan 2023)
DRUNCH
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Drunch in London’s Fitzrovia is their latest branch, and set the tone with their Kiwi Passion (kiwi, Passion Fruit, Pineapple, Lime & Sugar) whose zestiness, which culminated in an amazing malty aftertaste, held our attention throughout. To be sure, all three of their drinks impressed.
IL BEBO'S
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Italian and Mediterranean Il Bebo’s in London’s Wood Green served quite a selection of beverages with a number of mocktails the best of which was this Exotic Sunset (orange juice, cranberry juice, passion fruit, grenadine with crushed ice), whose many elements worked in tandem to deliver an undulating journey for the palate, with the grenadine’s sourness running in the background.
IL BEBO'S
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Il Bebo’s smoothies were superb too, with each one turning out not just smooth in texture, but also full of flavour. The delicious Ava-Go-Go and its hint of mango didn’t just make this gentle in its sweetness, but also gave it a complexity of flavour that was astoundingly good.
PITMASTER
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Pitmaster was part of our Manchester Tour 2022. While they put up two incredibly good shakes, it was the Salted Caramel Cookie Dough Shake which impressed. The secret? Freshly made cookie dough (that’s right; and they’re a smokehouse).
Turning out lusciously thick, milky, and full of flavour, and with delicious chunks of chewy dough coming through every so often, this was the best shake we’ve had this year.
RIBEYE
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Again, Ribeye was also part of our Manchester Tour 2022. This place has the distinction of being the first restaurant to introduce a full dry bar to the city. And the endeavour paid off with their Manchester Bee (peach, lemonade with lime and honey) turning out smooth and fragrant, with the sweetness of the honey giving way to the zingy, almost eye squinting, richness of the peach and lime. Superb!
TARRAGON BISTRO
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Part of our Birmingham Food Toour 2022, Tarragon in Hall Green deserve much praise not least because, as a business situated in a predominantly non-Muslim locale, have stuck to providing a non-alcoholic drinks menu.
Of the three mocktails we tried, this Passion Fruit & Mint Cooler (fresh passionfruit, lime, mint, ginger ale) tipped it for us, with layering of flavours that oscillated between the tangy sweetness of the passion fruit to the zesty sourness of the lime.
