Award News 2017

Probably the finest culinary competition reaches its climax!

After much anticipation and a great deal of excitement, the winners in the Carlsberg UK Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards 2017/18 are finally celebrating being named the best of the county’s best!

 

The competition, now in its ninth year, is aimed at celebrating all that is great about local produce and drink, recognising excellence within the county’s dining venues and rewarding those who work so hard within the culinary sector.

 

The results were announced at a glittering Awards Dinner staged at Northampton’s Royal & Derngate (Wednesday 15th November) and those were (in presentation order and, in the case of two winners or runners-up, in alphabetical order):

 

Artisan Local Drink of the Year:

 

Winner: Triple ‘F’ Pure Apple Juice – Floyers’ Fruit Farm, Flore

Runner-up: Bell Ringer – Towcester Mill Brewery, Towcester

 

New Local Drink of the Year

 

Winner: Burnt Ox Blood – Nobby’s Brewing Company, Thrapston

Winner: Dream Catcher – Tea Lab Company, Northampton

 

Artisan Local Savoury Product of the Year (Sponsored by Heygates Flour and Animal Feed)

 

Winner: Northamptonshire Blue – Hamm Tun Fine Foods, Hannington

Runner-up: Phipps Firkin – Neneview Dairy, Stanwick

 

Artisan Local Sweet Product of the Year (Sponsored by Moulton College)

 

Winner: Honey, Lemon and Ginger Marmalade – Nature’s Fayre, Thrapston

Runner-up: Dark Espresso Chocolate – Seed and Bean, Corby

Runner-up: Gooseberry and Elderflower Gelato – Ganders Goat, Cottingham

 

One To Watch (Sponsored by Whitworth Bros. Ltd Flour Millers)

 

Winner: Ganders Goat, Cottingham

Winner: Towcester Mill Brewery, Towcester

 

Farming Innovation Award (Sponsored by Weetabix Growers Group)

 

Winner: Mee Farmers, Nassington

Runner-up: Courteenhall Farms, Courteenhall

 

Healthy Eating Workplace of the Year (Sponsored by Northamptonshire County Council)

 

Winner: Weatherbys Ltd, Wellingborough

Runner-up: John Lewis Plc, Northampton

Runner-up: Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains, Brixworth

 

Independent Café / Tea Room of the Year (Sponsored by Pidy UK):

 

Winner: Workbridge Coffee Shop, Northampton

Runner-up: The Bread & Butter Factory, Northampton

 

Spice Restaurant of the Year (Sponsored by British Pepper & Spice)

 

Winner: The Exotic Dining, Kettering

Runner-up: Taste of Spice, Northampton

 

Restaurant of the Year (Sponsored by Whitco Catering and Bakery Equipment)

 

Winner: The Folly, Towcester

Runner-up: Tap and Kitchen, Oundle

 

Booker Food Pub of the Year (Sponsored by Booker)

 

Winner: The Hopping Hare, Northampton

Runner-up: The Wheatsheaf Pub & Dining Room, Northampton

 

Great Service Award (Sponsored by Northampton College)

 

Winner: The Folly, Towcester

 

Chef of the Year (Sponsored by Dawn Farms and Cordant People)

 

Winner: Richard Walker – Fawsley Hall Hotel, Fawsley

Runner-up: James Peck (Freelance Chef)

 

Booker Young Chef of the Year (Sponsored by Booker)

 

Winner: Victoria Austin – Highgate House, Creaton

Runner-up: Arturs Dzerins – The Hopping Hare, Northampton

 

Community Pub of the Year (Sponsored by Carlsberg UK)

 

Winner: The Dukes Arms, Woodford

Runner-up: The Sun Inn, Kislingbury

 

Weetabix Local Food Hero of the Year (Sponsored by Weetabix)

 

Winner: Steve Reid of Friars Farm, Northampton

Runner-up: The Good Loaf, Northampton

 

F&B Achiever of the Year (Sponsored by Howes Percival LLP)

 

Winner: Tom Warner and Christina Warner-Keogh – Warner Edwards, Harrington

 

Chairman’s Award

 

Winner: Alaric Neville – Phipps NBC, Northampton

 

The evening also shone a spotlight on Eat Out Eat Well, a national scheme run here in the county by Environmental Health Northamptonshire which rewards caterers and eateries who make it easier for their customers to make healthy choices, and saw the top scoring Gold venues from five of the seven borough and district councils being celebrated for their achievement. They are:

Mille’s Café, Wellingborough

Mrs B’s in Rushden

Reg’s Café in Kings Sutton

The R Inn Hotel, Tapas Bar and Grill, Desborough

The Stables Café, Althorp

 

The winners of all the categories were presented with trophies which had been specially designed by the Awards team – a framed roman number IX, depicted as a spoon and crossed knife and fork, to represent the ninth year of the competition – by Awards Patrons William Sitwell and Sophie Grigson.

For the team at The Hopping Hare in Northampton, the evening was double cause for celebration for not only was 23 year-old Arturs Dzerins named runner-up in the ‘Booker Young Chef of the Year’ category, but the venue also took the ‘Booker Food Pub of the Year’ title.

 

Having been a regular finalist in the category and indeed the runner-up last year, owner David George was clearly thrilled to have clinched the top spot this time: “At the start of the year we set out to secure 2 AA Rosettes and win this title and we couldn’t be more delighted to have now achieved both!” explained David.

“The trophy will be put on pride of place behind the bar for not only our loyal customers to see but also those newcomers whom we know will now be wanting to visit to try our fabulous food, great service and outstanding value for money for themselves, thanks to this accolade!” he enthused.

 

Sadly missing from the proceedings was Antonio Carluccio OBE who passed away just a week before being due to follow in the footsteps of chefs Marcus Wareing, Jason Atherton and Michel Roux OBE as the evening’s special guest.

 

It was therefore appropriate that the event began with a toast to the man known as the ‘Godfather of Italian cooking’ led by his good friend William Sitwell before the formal welcomes from Awards Director, Rachel Mallows MBE DL of The Mallows Company, Bruce Ray, VP Global Government Relations and UK Corporate Affairs at Carlsberg and Stephen Catchpole who is the Chief Executive of SEMLEP.

 

Guests then enjoyed a sumptuous three course meal designed and created by Lee Scott of Tom Hewer Catering’s newest restaurant, Hisbiscus, with help from a team of culinary students from Northampton College who switched their regular classes for the experience of being part of the prestigious occasion.

 

Befitting a celebration of the excellence of the county’s food and drink sector, the menu included a wealth of Northamptonshire ingredients, including the runner-up goat cheese from Stanwick’s Neneview Dairy, winning marmalade from Nature’s Fayre of Thrapston, mayonnaise from Farrington Oils at Hargrave and runner-up goat milk gelato from Ganders Goat in Cottingham.

 

The culinary offering concluded with petits fours generously provided by Belflair Chocolates of Brackley with the tea coming courtesy of Northampton winners, the Tea Lab Company, the coffee from Great Brington Coffee and the milk from Newlands Farm at Hannington.

 

In addition, Carlsberg UK’s Bruce Ray also returned to the stage later in the evening to share news of an exciting project which the brewery is formally launching later this month – their first ‘Christmas Brew’ which will be sold only in Northamptonshire at some 30 pubs, bars and venues, with proceeds donated to Northamptonshire Community Foundation’s ‘Surviving Winter Appeal’.

 

Wareing, Atherton, Roux….Carluccio!

Having previously welcomed culinary greats Marcus Wareing, Jason Atherton and Michel Roux OBE as the special guest at its end-of year dinner, the team behind the Carlsberg UK Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards is thrilled to announce that master chef Antonio Carluccio OBE will be performing the prize-giving honours at next month’s celebration.

 

The event being held at Northampton’s Royal & Derngate is considered one of the highlights of the county’s social calendar as chefs, restaurants, pubs and producers come together to celebrate the culmination of this prestigious competition.

 

Highly respected and warmly regarded, Antonio, who has more than 20 books as well as numerous TV appearances to his name, was awarded the OBE for his services to the catering industry by HM The Queen in 2007. Some nine years earlier he was similarly recognized in his home country with the title of Commendatore, the equivalent of a knighthood, while in 2012 his longstanding commitment to the sector saw his receiving the AA Hospitality Lifetime Achievement Award.

 

The chef, who lives by his motto ‘MOF MOF’ – minimum of fuss, maximum of flavour – says he’s thrilled to be coming to the county: “I’m very excited to be joining this special night and getting to know Northamptonshire’s wonderful food and drink sector.

 

“It’s an honour to be presenting the awards to people who obviously deserve them and it will be lovely to see the happiness behind it. It means something has been done well and somebody has noticed it” Antonio added.

 

For Awards Director Rachel Mallows MBE DL, welcoming the man known as the Godfather of Italian food is set to be the icing on the cake of another great year of the competition: “We were absolutely delighted that Antonio accepted our invitation to be with us, following as he does a trio of culinary greats, because we know having someone of such stature means so much to our finalists” explained Rachel.

 

“Of course, while Antonio knows everything there is to know about Italian food, we’re looking forward to ensuring that, by the end of the night, he is fully aware that Northamptonshire is a food and drink county that’s worthy of its place on the culinary map!” she enthused.

 

Among those waiting to learn if they will be picking up an award from the great man are those shortlisted in the new ‘One To Watch’ category. The four are (in alphabetical order):

I’m Real Ice Cream, Northampton

Ganders Goat, Cottingham

Gluten-free Artisan Foods Ltd (t/a The Happy Little Cake Company/Most Marvellous Baking), N’ton

Towcester Mill Brewery, Towcester

 

As the category title suggests, this award was established to recognize those businesses younger than five years old, which, while already enjoying early success, are set to make a further impact on the sector and thereby raise the county’s profile at a regional or national level.

 

It was instigated thanks to Wellingborough-based sponsor Whitworth Bros Ltd Flour Millers in demonstration of their support and encouragement of the county’s entrepreneurs and increasing number of food and drink start-ups.

 

The last month has also seen the judging of the county’s finest eateries as they vie for the three prestigious venue titles. The first, ‘Restaurant of the Year’ (sponsored by Whitco Catering and Bakery Equipment) saw the following six finalists selected (in alphabetical order):

Brasserie 23 at The Kings Head, Spratton

Fawsley Hall Hotel, Fawsley

Karmana, Northampton

Nuovo, Northampton

Tap and Kitchen, Oundle

The Folly, Towcester

 

Meanwhile the quartet of venues now bidding for the title of ‘Spice Restaurant of the Year’ (sponsored by British Pepper & Spice) title is:

Royal Tandoori, Corby

Saffron, Northampton

Taste of Spice, Northampton

The Exotic Dining, Kettering

 

Finally the ‘Booker Food Pub of the Year’ title (sponsored by Booker) is set to go to one of the following six finalists:

Fox & Hounds, Charwelton

The Hopping Hare, Northampton

The Swan, Braybrooke

The Three Cranes, Great Cransley

The Wheatsheaf Pub & Dining Room, Northampton

Tollemache Arms, Harrington

 

In addition The Red Lion Pub and Dining at Cranford, while not making the final ‘Booker Food Pub’ shortlist, was awarded a ‘Highly Commended’.

Let them eat cake!

While the rest of the nation eagerly anticipates the return of the ‘Great British Bake Off’, the county has been enjoying its own fix of flying flour and pulsating piping bags as some of the finest local cafés have been sieving, slicing and serving in a bid to take their own rather prestigious title – that of ‘Independent Café / Tea Room of the Year’ in this year’s Carlsberg UK Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards!

 

The competition, which is now in its ninth year, is again aimed at celebrating all that is great about local produce and drink, recognising excellence within the county’s dining venues and rewarding those who work so hard within the culinary sector.

 

This category, sponsored by Pidy UK, firstly saw a group of generous volunteers from Northamptonshire WI traverse the county to pay two Mystery Shopping visits to each of the entries, before four finalists were chosen to compete at the bake-off at Northampton College. They were (in alphabetical order):

 

Forget Me Not Café, Moulton

 

The Apothocoffee Shop, Earls Barton

 

The Bread & Butter Factory, Northampton

 

Workbridge Coffee Shop, Northampton

 

The venues were asked to prepare, cook and serve a scone, a signature cake or biscuit and a drink to a team of ‘diners’ including the Leader of Northamptonshire County Council, Cllr Heather Smith, Suzanne Fairey, Commercial Manager at Northamptonshire County Cricket Club, and local community leader Neelam Aggarwal MBE.

 

And while they whisked and baked they were being watched and scored on everything from hygiene to presentation, teamwork and of course taste by a panel of judges which included former cookery school director Mary Laing, Fabien Levet, who was proudly representing Pidy UK, and Deborah Manger, a contestant in the 2013 series of the ‘Great British Bake Off’.

 

Having been a judge in the county competition for the previous five years, Deborah is running out of superlatives to describe the event: “It’s obvious that the news about these awards has spread and the venues participating are just upping their game, year on year” explained Deborah.

 

“Not only did they create some amazing cakes and scones, which made the judging process as difficult as ever, but they did it all with such calmness which was great to watch. I was really very impressed!” she enthused.

Probably the finest chefs in Northamptonshire!

With a greater number of entries than ever before and a wealth of new companies engaging with the competition, a fresh line-up of county producers now find themselves battling it out for culinary glory in the Carlsberg UK Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards.

 

The Awards, now in their ninth year, are aimed at celebrating all that is great about local produce and drink, recognising excellence within the county’s dining venues and rewarding those who work so hard within the culinary sector.

 

 

The first judging session, staged at The Red Lion in East Haddon (as winner of the Great Service Award in last year’s Awards), saw a panel of judges including Katie Hewitt, Category Manager for spirits and soft drinks at Carlsberg UK and the editor of CAMRA’s What’s Brewing and BEER magazine, Tom Stainer, come together to choose their finalists in the two drinks categories. They are (in alphabetical order within the category):

 

New  Local Drink of the Year:

 

Burnt Ox Blood – Nobby’s Brewing Co, Thrapston

 

Dream Catcher – Tea Lab Company, Northampton

 

Long Apple – Wharf Distillery, Potterspury

 

Oak Aged Gin – Phipps NBC, Northampton

 

Saxon Shield – Towcester Mill Brewery, Towcester

 

Winwick Gold – Healy’s of Winwick, Winwick

 

 

Artisan Local Drink of the Year:

 

Bell Ringer – Towcester Mill Brewery, Towcester

 

India Pale Ale – Phipps NBC, Northampton

 

Octane – Silverstone Real Ale Co, Silverstone

 

Old Nick’s Favourite – Brigstock Brewhouse, Brigstock

 

Pink Baron – New Lodge Vineyard, Earl’s Barton

 

Triple ‘F’ Pure Apple Juice – Floyer’s Fruit Farm, Flore

 

Merrimen Brewing in Litchborough was also awarded a ‘Highly Commended’ for their beer, Merri-ness.

 

Meanwhile, having already held a longlisting process in the two product categories, the shortlisting session staged at Holdenby House saw a panel of judges including Stephen Davies, Principal of category sponsor Moulton College, Saints and former England Saxons lock, Christian Day, and Food and Health Section Manager at Northamptonshire Trading Standards, Paul Maylunn tuck in to the array of tasty treats. The resulting finalists are (again in alphabetical order within the category):

 

Artisan Savoury Product of the Year (sponsored by Heygates Flour and Animal Feed):

 

Northamptonshire Blue – Hamm Tun Fine Foods, Hannington

 

Phipps Firkin – Neneview Dairy, Stanwick

 

Pilau Rice Kit – Punjaban, Northampton

 

Pork Pinwheels – Sauls of Spratton, Spratton

 

Stanwick Blue – Neneview Dairy, Stanwick

 

Tasty Tamarind Curry Base – Punjaban, Northampton

 

 

Artisan Sweet Product of the Year (sponsored by Moulton College):

 

Dark Espresso Chocolate – Seed and Bean, Corby

 

Gooseberry and Elderflower Gelato – Ganders Goat, Cottingham

 

Honey, Lemon and Ginger Marmalade – Nature’s Fayre, Thrapston

 

Northampton Marmalade – Friar’s Farm, Northampton

 

Raspberry and Amaretti Crunch Cake – Forget-Me-Not Café, Moulton

 

Vegan Tiramisu – Flo’s Kitchen, Northampton

 

Among the new finalists to be celebrating success in being shortlisted are Ian and Lauren Horton from Ganders Goat, an 11-acre goat farm at Cottingham near Corby, who learned of their success on their seventh wedding anniversary: “We couldn’t really have asked for a better present than the news that we’ve got through to the finals of these prestigious awards, especially as we’ve only been producing ice cream from our own goats’ milk for just over a year now” explained Ian.

 

“We’re absolutely delighted to think that the judges appreciated what we consider to be a really wonderful product and hope that this accolade will mean more people get to hear about us and are encouraged to try our delicious treats!” he added.

 

For the Awards Director, Rachel Mallows MBE, the line-up of finalists is a great indicator of the current health of the county’s food and drink sector: “I am really thrilled to see that some of our more established firms are continuing to hold their own, particularly as many of them are former finalists and winners, which just goes to show what value they place on the awards” revealed Rachel.

 

“But I’m equally pleased to see the new names on the shortlists as it shows the talent of business that is coming through, which all helps to create healthy competition and drive up standards as we’ve seen happen so successfully across the sector over the last nine years” she enthused.

Fresh faces in food and drink battle!

With a greater number of entries than ever before and a wealth of new companies engaging with the competition, a fresh line-up of county producers now find themselves battling it out for culinary glory in the Carlsberg UK Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards.

 

The Awards, now in their ninth year, are aimed at celebrating all that is great about local produce and drink, recognising excellence within the county’s dining venues and rewarding those who work so hard within the culinary sector.

 

The first judging session, staged at The Red Lion in East Haddon (as winner of the Great Service Award in last year’s Awards), saw a panel of judges including Katie Hewitt, Category Manager for spirits and soft drinks at Carlsberg UK and the editor of CAMRA’s What’s Brewing and BEER magazine, Tom Stainer, come together to choose their finalists in the two drinks categories. They are (in alphabetical order within the category):

 

New Local Drink of the Year:

 

Burnt Ox Blood – Nobby’s Brewing Co, Thrapston

 

Dream Catcher – Tea Lab Company, Northampton

 

Long Apple – Wharf Distillery, Potterspury

 

Oak Aged Gin – Phipps NBC, Northampton

 

Saxon Shield – Towcester Mill Brewery, Towcester

 

Winwick Gold – Healy’s of Winwick, Winwick

 

 

Artisan Local Drink of the Year:

 

Bell Ringer – Towcester Mill Brewery, Towcester

 

India Pale Ale – Phipps NBC, Northampton

 

Octane – Silverstone Real Ale Co, Silverstone

 

Old Nick’s Favourite – Brigstock Brewhouse, Brigstock

 

Pink Baron – New Lodge Vineyard, Earl’s Barton

 

Triple ‘F’ Pure Apple Juice – Floyer’s Fruit Farm, Flore

 

Merrimen Brewing in Litchborough was also awarded a ‘Highly Commended’ for their beer, Merri-ness.

 

Meanwhile, having already held a longlisting process in the two product categories, the shortlisting session staged at Holdenby House saw a panel of judges including Stephen Davies, Principal of category sponsor Moulton College, Saints and former England Saxons lock, Christian Day, and Food and Health Section Manager at Northamptonshire Trading Standards, Paul Maylunn tuck in to the array of tasty treats. The resulting finalists are (again in alphabetical order within the category):

Artisan Savoury Product of the Year (sponsored by Heygates Flour and Animal Feed):

 

Northamptonshire Blue – Hamm Tun Fine Foods, Hannington

 

Phipps Firkin – Neneview Dairy, Stanwick

 

Pilau Rice Kit – Punjaban, Northampton

 

Pork Pinwheels – Sauls of Spratton, Spratton

 

Stanwick Blue – Neneview Dairy, Stanwick

 

Tasty Tamarind Curry Base – Punjaban, Northampton

 

 

Artisan Sweet Product of the Year (sponsored by Moulton College):

 

Dark Espresso Chocolate – Seed and Bean, Corby

 

Gooseberry and Elderflower Gelato – Ganders Goat, Cottingham

 

Honey, Lemon and Ginger Marmalade – Nature’s Fayre, Thrapston

 

Northampton Marmalade – Friar’s Farm, Northampton

 

Raspberry and Amaretti Crunch Cake – Forget-Me-Not Café, Moulton

 

Vegan Tiramisu – Flo’s Kitchen, Northampton

 

Among the new finalists to be celebrating success in being shortlisted are Ian and Lauren Horton from Ganders Goat, an 11-acre goat farm at Cottingham near Corby, who learned of their success on their seventh wedding anniversary: “We couldn’t really have asked for a better present than the news that we’ve got through to the finals of these prestigious awards, especially as we’ve only been producing ice cream from our own goats’ milk for just over a year now” explained Ian.

 

“We’re absolutely delighted to think that the judges appreciated what we consider to be a really wonderful product and hope that this accolade will mean more people get to hear about us and are encouraged to try our delicious treats!” he added.

 

For the Awards Director, Rachel Mallows MBE, the line-up of finalists is a great indicator of the current health of the county’s food and drink sector: “I am really thrilled to see that some of our more established firms are continuing to hold their own, particularly as many of them are former finalists and winners, which just goes to show what value they place on the awards” revealed Rachel.

 

“But I’m equally pleased to see the new names on the shortlists as it shows the talent of business that is coming through, which all helps to create healthy competition and drive up standards as we’ve seen happen so successfully across the sector over the last nine years” she enthused.

 

Probably The Finest Culinary Competition In The World Is Back!

The team behind the Carlsberg UK Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards is delighted to announce that the competition has been launched for 2017 for what is expected to be its best year yet!

 

The Awards are aimed at celebrating all that is great about local produce and drink, recognising excellence within the county’s dining venues and rewarding those who work so hard within the culinary sector.

 

Thanks to ongoing support from its existing sponsors, including headline sponsor Carlsberg UK, Booker, British Pepper & Spice, Cordant People, Heygates Flour and Animal Feed, Moulton College, Northamptonshire County Council, Pidy UK, Weetabix, Whitco Catering and Bakery Equipment, Whitworth Bros Ltd Flour Millers, and the addition of two new sponsors, Howes Percival LLP and Northampton College, as well as support from SEMLEP, the Awards line-up has a new look (media partners in brackets):

 

‘Artisan Local Savoury Product of the Year’ – sponsored by Heygates Flour and Animal Feed (BBC Radio Northampton)

 

‘Artisan Local Sweet Product of the Year’ – sponsored by Moulton College (BBC Radio Northampton)

 

‘Artisan Local Drink of the Year’ – (BBC Radio Northampton)

 

‘New Local Drink of the Year’ – (BBC Radio Northampton)

 

‘One to Watch’ – sponsored by Whitworth Bros. Ltd Flour Millers

 

‘Booker Food Pub of the Year’ – sponsored by Booker (Great Food Club)

 

‘Restaurant of the Year’ – sponsored by Whitco Catering and Bakery Equipment (Business Times)

 

‘Spice Restaurant of the Year’ – sponsored by British Pepper & Spice

 

‘Independent Café / Tea Room of the Year’ – sponsored by Pidy UK (Northampton Life)

 

‘Chef of the Year’ – co-sponsored by Dawn Farms and Cordant People (NeneQuirer)

 

‘Booker Young Chef of the Year’ – sponsored by Booker (NeneQuirer)

 

‘Community Pub of the Year’ – sponsored by Carlsberg UK

 

‘Weetabix Local Food Hero of the Year’ – sponsored by Weetabix with Northamptonshire CPRE (Aspire Magazine)

 

‘Healthy Eating Workplace of the Year’ – sponsored by Northamptonshire County Council

 

‘F&B Achiever of the Year’ – sponsored by Howes Percival LLP

 

‘Farming Innovation Award’ – sponsored by the Weetabix Growers Group with the NFU

 

‘Great Service Award’ – sponsored by Northampton College

 

In addition, the Awards Dinner in November will again provide a platform to highlight successes in the county’s ‘Eat Out Eat Well’ scheme – the project managed by Environmental Health Northamptonshire which celebrates those eateries and catering companies that offer healthy and nutritious options on their menus – as well as the presentation of the ‘Chairman’s Award’, which is given in recognition of a particularly special contribution to the county’s food and drink sector.

 

The details of the 2017/18 competition were unveiled at the launch at Dawn Farms in Northampton (Thursday 30th March) – co-sponsor of the ‘Chef of the Year’ category – by the Awards’ Director, Rachel Mallows of The Mallows Company.

 

Among the changes she announced to the audience made up of reigning champions, sponsors, judges and competition partners was the introduction of the new category for 2017, the ‘One To Watch’, which will recognize the passion and commitment of businesses less than five years old which look set to have a major impact on the national and international markets, thereby raising the profile of Northamptonshire’s food and drink sector.

 

Meanwhile Rachel also underlined the competition’s continuing commitment to growth with the news that the winners of the all the categories will go on to receive tailored mentoring from experts on the Awards Mentoring Board, while the winners of the product and drink categories will be submitted as entries into the Great Taste Awards 2017 at the Northamptonshire Awards’ cost.

 

The competition also sees the return of the ‘Community Pub of the Year’ category, sponsored by Carlsberg UK, which replaces the Best Bar None categories of 2016/17 and celebrate those pubs which stand at the heart of their communities.

 

In addition, guests learned of the considerable business benefit that success in the competition can bring from Jim Kay, co-owner of the current ‘Booker Food Pub of the Year’, the Plough @ Shutlanger: “Aside from having such a great night at the awards dinner itself back in November, the resulting publicity has meant the ‘phones have not stopped ringing off the hook for the last few months” explained Jim.

 

“We’re taking bookings weeks in advance now and there doesn’t seem to be any end to it, so it’s going to be a busy summer ahead!” he enthused.

 

To set taste buds watering, guests were treated on arrival to a selection of mouthwatering biscuits from award-winner Most Marvellous Baking in Northampton and a glass of Ashmead’s Kernel Apple Juice from New Creation Farm in Nether Heyford.

 

After the formal proceedings they then enjoyed a tour of the Dawn Farms factory and a butchery masterclass before tucking into a lunch provided by the hosts which used not only a range of their own meat products but also a number of Northamptonshire treats from award winners and finalists, including cheese from The Little Smokehouse in Wellingborough and Neneview Dairy at Stanwick, Honeyed Real Ale Chutney from Thrapston’s Nature’s Fayre, a selection of salad dressings from Farrington Oils in Hargrave and Strawberries Ice Cream generously provided by I’m Real in Northampton.

 

Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards

The Mallows Company (07103621)

A Celebration and Recognition of Excellence within

Northamptonshire's Food and Drink Sector

Award News 2017

Weetabix Northamptonshire

Food and Drink Awards

The Mallows Company (07103621)

A Celebration and Recognition of Excellence within

Northamptonshire's Food and Drink Sector

Award News 2017

Probably the finest culinary competition reaches its climax!

Wareing, Atherton, Roux….Carluccio!

County’s food heroes revealed!

Masterchef winner joins culinary celebrations!

Cheers to Northamptonshire’s finest drinks!