Manual for the election of:
Restaurant of the year in the North (2010 and the years ahead…!)
In recognition and respect of the Nordic gastronomy and Nordic cultural values selected connoisseurs of gastronomy in the Nordic countries have teamed up to elect ”Restaurant of the year in the North”, an initiative that will bring further focus on the Nordic markers. Promoters/national responsible for the selection and nominations: Denmark: Bent Christensen, editor of the Gudme Raaschou Spiseguide. Norway: Arne Ronold, editor of the Vinforum. Finland: Kenneth Nars, restaurant critic/journalist at the Hufvudstadsbladet. Sweden: Relevant possibilities include the White Guide, the Livets Goda and Gourmet. Iceland: Undetermined
EXECUTION OF THE CONTEST As the promoter of the initiative Bent Christensen and the editorial staff of the Gudme Raaschou / Den Danske Spiseguide and the well-reputed election process of”Årets Restaurant i Danmark” propose the following model for execution and financing: A: Every Nordic country can participate. The first year the contest is executed with the participation of at least 3 countries.
B. The national organizer/promoter elects/selects a national candidate for the internordic nominating round. C. Each nation’s organizer/ promoter solely determines the rules that apply for the specific participating country as to the election/selection of the country’s nominated restaurant. It is imperative that this national process is carried through and the names of the candidate restaurants for the internordic nominating round can be published no later than on the 1st of November every year.
(For example, in Denmark, the nomination – also in terms of sponsoring - will function as a natural extension of the already well-reputed success of Gudme Raaschou / Den Danske Spiseguides nomination and election of “Årets Restaurant i Danmark”.)
INTERNORDIC NOMINATING ROUND D. Manner, menu & drink, price setting, marketing and the nominating dinners will be on each restaurant’s own expense and according to their own wishes. The only precondition is, that the restaurant must reserve five seatings for the internordic panel of judges. (Each selected restaurant must be informed of this and accept this demand before the publication of the nomination!) In return, the nominated restaurants are free to cover their expenses by ex. selling tickets to private guests. The internordic nominating dinners must be held between 1st of November – 10th of December. E. A panel of judges with a representative from every participating country – selected by each national organizer/promoter will attend at the internordic nominating dinners in all of the nominated restaurants. Right after the last nominating dinner each member of the jury will cast his/her e-mail vote by order of priority of the nominated restaurants, and then the name of the “Restaurant of the year in the North” can be found. FINALE: GALA - EVENT. F.”Restaurant of the Year in the North” can then be elected and announced at a gala-event that will take place at a suitable place in the North, not necessarily at one of the nominated restaurants or for that matter in the elected restaurant’s
homeland. The first time will probably be in Denmark in mid-January 2010. Here, diplomas to all of the nominated restaurants will be presented and naturally the winner will be awarded with an honorary diploma and statuette or some other piece of art. G: The first year’s GALA – event is suggested to be held by Bent Christensen (Danish Primary organizer).
FINANCING: The economy, in regards to each nominating dinner (B and C) is strictly a national matter (i.e. the nominated restaurant’s responsibility). The members of the jury in the internordic nominating dinners (D) will get their travel- and hotel expenses covered by the primary organizer. There will be one jury member from each country. In regard to the finale gala-event (F) the economic responsibility lies solely on the national organizer/ promoter in the country that host The Gala, called the primary organizer, including coverage of travel- and hotel expenses for the 5 national jury members with companions – in total 10 persons. Each of the other national organizers / promoters will further be allocated a minimum of 10 seatings to the galla-event at their own disposal (can be sold on / distributed to ex. representatives from the nominated restaurant from that country, press or sponsors.) These reserved seatings are paid to the primary organizer of the gala-event. The expenses for marketing of the gala-event, including invitations to the local press are covered by the primary organizer in the country where the event takes place. The same applies for the costs of diplomas and statuette.
GENERAL INFO & PRECISION: Sponsors. We assume it will be possible to attract sponsors.
Sponsor agreements on the national level concerning A, B & C are each country’s own responsibility and do not concern F and G: The gala-event, where sponsor deals can be made with the primary organizer to secure that the event takes place. The Economy regarding B is strictly a national matter. D: It is a national matter – excluding travel- and hotel expenses for every jury member – these are covered by the primary organizer.
THE GALA – EVENT F: The gala-evening is organized and held, ex. in turn, by the primary organizers/media, though the first event is held in January 2010 by Bent Christensen. The economy concerning the gala-event is solely placed on the primary organizer, incl. coverage of travel- and hotel expenses for the 5 jury members + companions – in total 10 people. The costs of diplomas and statuette are covered by the primary organizer/ head sponsor/ other sponsors. The organizer agrees with the chosen restaurant on the economy and execution of the gala-event. The marketing expenses of the gala-event are covered by the primary organizer. Expenses for the inviting of a specific number of representatives from the media are covered by the primary organizer. __________________________ It is expected that the documentation for preparation and annual publishing of a book “Bedste restauranter i Norden 2010” in the same style as previous similar publications in Denmark will be accomplished. Claes Bech-Poulsen has pledged himself to photograph, the lyrics about each nominated restaurant are expected to be written by the national responsible and the publication/production can take place in each country with a fixed budget for printing and distribution.
Bent Christensen * Ringstedvej 93 * 4690 Haslev * t. +45 56311168
bent@bentchristensen.com