Last year at La Barca we were honoured to be awarded the prestigious accolade of Scotland’s Best Mediterranean Restaurant.

And this year we’re asking customers to kindly vote for us again in the hope that we can win it two years running.

Not only do we think it helped put Helensburgh on the map but it gave our team a much deserved pat on the back and a great night off!

I remember getting all dressed up in my best black frock while the boys donned smart kilts for the glitzy Scottish Entertainment and Hospitality Awards held at a Glasgow hotel.

It’s Scotland’s largest hospitality event and we were up against the ‘big boys’ as we called them – four well known restaurants from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

When we arrived to find our table at the back of the function suite as far from the winners stage as you could possible get it was not a good sign.

So we opened the wine, tucked into the three course dinner and thought, if nothing else, it was an achievement to have made it that far.

Another Helensburgh institution The Wee Kelpie were also in the room and set a tough act to follow when early in the evening they won Scotland’s Best Takeaway.

Surely two places from Helensburgh couldn’t win something and as our Best Mediterranean category came around we were on the edge of our seats with nerves.

Then we heard the words ‘and the winner is... La Barca, Helensburgh’ and leapt into the air with excitement.

Our ecstatic team bounded up on stage and we collected the glass trophy that has taken pride of place in our restaurant ever since.

It’s been a busy second year for La Barca in a new look town that is certainly on the up and up.

We’ve welcomed diners from all over the world who’ve visited Helensburgh and tried to give them a fantastic culinary experience to remember.

At the same time we’ve supported many of our local producers and suppliers including Townhead Farm, Muirheads Dairy and Natures Harvest.

So if you enjoy La Barca please support us by logging onto www. entertainmentawards.co.uk and voting for us in the category Scotland’s Best Mediterranean Cuisine.

Voting closes March 20 and the top five venues with the most votes will be visited by independent mystery diners who will judge who is the best of the best.

We’d love with your help to swap our aprons for a new frock and kilts and make it two in a row for La Barca and Helensburgh.