A RESTAURANT has scooped a unique prize specifically for its use of a wood-fired oven.

The Artigiani del Cibo Italian Restaurant, in Burnham’s High Street, was awarded the ‘Woody Award’ by Logs Direct, who provide wood for the oven.

The family run restaurant in High Street specialises in authentic Italian cuisine cooked to order, with customers able to select from an extensive and varied menu sampling flavours from around Italy.

Artigiani del Cibo’s directors, Oltion Mataj and Antonio Seidini, said: “It is fantastic to have won the Woody Award for December 2016 and this achievement makes us very proud. We believe winning the award will help spread the word that we have brought a little bit of authentic Italy to the heart of Burnham.”

The kiln-dried wood is used as it does not affect the flavour of the food in the oven and it does not spit or smoke.

The restaurant said of the effects of the wood: “Kiln-dried logs are excellent for our wood-fired oven and allow us to create traditional pizza how it should be.”

The High Street restaurant opened in September 2015 and the judges of the competition were impressed that it has already built a solid reputation in the village.

One diner said: “Eating at Artigiani del Cibo makes you feel like you are on holiday in Italy – it’s the best Italian restaurant in the area.”

Another added: “The food and service were outstanding and the restaurant is really cosy.”