Staff at an Italian restaurant in Grange Moor are celebrating a hat-trick of award nominations.
Orlando’s in Wakefield Road is a finalist in three categories at the inaugural English Italian Awards.
The awards, to recognise Italian communities across England, are voted for by customers and independent judges visit anonymously to decide the winner from the shortlisted finalists.
There are 14 categories and Orlando’s – run by Italian-born Orlando Gubbini – was a finalist in three – best chef, best family restaurant and best pizzeria.
Orlando and head chef Simon Treherne cooked for celebrity chef and awards judge Aldo Zilli in Cheshire.
While most of the 10 finalists chose seafood dishes, Orlando decided to go it alone and selected a fillet of pork wrapped in Parma ham with sage, three beans and tomato sauce.
The winners will be announced at a gala dinner at the Palace Hotel in Manchester on October 4.
Orlando, 59, who came to Britain at the age of 21, has always worked in the catering industry and opened the Grange Moor restaurant 15 years ago.
“We have many loyal customers and we are the only restaurant in West Yorkshire to be nominated for three awards,” he said.
“Customers who came here as children now bring their own children.”
The family restaurant is renowned for the table magic performed by Orlando himself, a professional magician.
Head chef Simon has worked at the restaurant for six years and Orlando hopes a bit of homework on Italian chef Zilli will pay dividends.
“I found out that Aldo likes simple dishes so that’s what we decided to cook for him,” said Orlando. “All the other chefs cooked seafood so hopefully ours stood out.”
