A NORTH EAST restaurant has taken the regal title of the 'Stockton's Best Parmo' in a competition set up by an MP.
Often dividing opinion across the rest of the country, the famous Teesside parmo remains a much-loved tradition in the area.
Borge Restaurant on Yarm Lane in Stockton has been chosen in a public vote as the winner of the parmo competition.
The restaurant saw off competition from The Masham, The George Pub & Grill, The Crown and Divine Greek to win the competition.
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After a round of public nominations and a final public vote between five restaurants in the borough of Stockton, Borge has been crowned the area’s favourite for providing the Italian-inspired dish.
Residents of Stockton were first asked to nominate any restaurant in the area for the award.
The top five nominated restaurants were entered into a final public vote in which hundreds of people from across the borough decided the winner.
Stockton South MP Matt Vickers presented Borge staff and owner Fash with the award alongside a bottle of House of Commons champagne signed by the Prime Minister.
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The owner of Borge restaurant, Fash, said: “We’re delighted to have again won a parmo competition for the 5th time and retained our crown, a big thank you to all of our customers and those who voted for us and to Matt for organising the competition”
Taking to Facebook, Borge Restaurant was quick to share the good news with its followers and said: “We've won! Stockton's Best Parmo, now with an official 'Parliamentary Stamp.' With massive thanks and appreciation to our loyal customers, friends and colleagues alike for the love and votes. Special thanks to Matt Vickers MP who kindly came to present our award and champers gift.”
Mr Vickers said: “A huge congratulations goes to Borge restaurant for seeing off some stiff competition from across the area and proving that their parmo remains the borough’s favourite.
“I am delighted by the response to the competition and hope that it has encouraged local parmo-lovers to try the excellent takes on Teesside’s famous dish from across the area and support the local hospitality industry which has suffered over the last few years.”
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Last year, Mr Vickers' faced a backlash after a proposal to introduce the Teesside chicken parmo to the House of Commons menu.
Mr Vickers wrote a letter last autumn to the Parliamentary catering team asking to include the popular Teesside dish on the menu.
This divided opinion with other leaders stating that 'there are more important things' to be discussing right now during a pandemic, with households losing £20 a week due to Universal Credit cuts last September.
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