NORTH-EAST venues are among those which have been shortlisted for a national award.

The 2019 Golden Chopstick Awards, now in its second year, recognises excellence in Oriental cooking – and the winners will be announced on Monday, April, at a glittering ceremony in Mayfair, London, hosted by Gok Wan.

Finalists include the Big Bamboo Asian Deli with a Twist, in Hartlepool, and two York outlets – the Little Somboon Kitchen and Tikk’s Thai Kitchen – all in the running for the Best Street Food Award.

The Thai House Cafe in Newcastle is a finalist in the Best Noodle Dish Award, while Sunderland’s Ying’s Thai Takeaway is shortlisted in the Best Takeaway category.

A host of celebrities and VIP’s will be at the event at the Marriott, Grosvenor Square, including Sally Lindsey, Andrea McLean, Alice Beer and Ollie Locke as well as representatives from the Korean and Chinese Embassies and some of the biggest influencers in Oriental food, eminent food writers and prominent community leaders including Jeremy Pang and Ching He Huang.

The ten judges are led by Chinese cuisine expert and TV chef Ken Hom.