It was a night to remember, dimly, through sore eyes and a headache.

The fourth annual Observer Food Monthly awards, at Belgravia's elegant Il Bottaccio, brought all our favourite eaters and drinkers together, with ex-Blur bassist-turned quality cheesemaker, Alex James dishing out awards, alongside Gordon Ramsay and OFM editor Nicola Jeal. Alex's cheese speech was beyond hilarious. Trust us. You had to be there.

All the winners (including fabulous baker boys Falko Burkert and Robert Linton, who turned up bare-legged and chilly in his kilt) congratulated each other on their mutual brilliance, while mingling in the upstairs bar, Giorgio Locatelli and his (beautiful) wife Plaxy drank Snow Queen vodka or Luxardo cocktails mixed by the fabulous bar staff (see right) with Observer restaurant critic Jay Rayner, Raymond Blanc and our very own Nigel Slater.

Downstairs, in the wood-panelled cigar bar, guests were encouraged to glug scotch from their own decanters. Veteran actor (and OFM Favourite Table star) Leslie Phillips held court, drinking Whyte & Mackay whisky and wooing guests with his wit, his eyebrows and ability to stay so suave post-80. Meanwhile, Moving Venue caterers kept Britain's most discerning palates satisfied with delicious morsels, which were first individually paraded down a catwalk before being devoured by the starving mob. And everyone, of course, behaved impeccably.

Snow Queen mint special

50ml Snow Queen vodka
35ml syrup de gomme (sugar syrup)
handful of fresh mint leaves
20ml lime juice
ice cubes

Put everything into a shaker with a handful of ice cubes, and shake for 20 seconds. Strain into a tall glass filled with ice. Top up with ice and soda, serve with a sprig of mint.

Mackay sour

35ml Whyte and Mackay whisky
20ml lemon juice
15ml honey
35ml Bramley apple juice
20ml egg white

Shake all the ingredients hard with ice, and strain over more cubed ice in a tumbler. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.