The Winners 2018/2019
The Winners 2018/2019
As we near the announcement of the winners of this year's categories at the Awards Dinner on 14th November, we continue to celebrate our winners from last year's competition.
Those were (in presentation order and, in the case of two winners or runners-up, in alphabetical order):
The competition, now in its tenth 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 7th November) and those were (in presentation order and, in the case of two winners or runners-up, in alphabetical order):
F&B Achiever of the Year
Sponsor
Winner
Nicky Dorwood of Limes Farm Ltd and School Meals Ltd,
Farthinghoe; 01295 711229
Runner-up
Naz Islam Saffron,
Northampton; 01604 630800
Finalists
Angus and Kirsty Clarke Waterloo Cottage Farm,
Great Oxendon; 01858 467158
Colm Curran Seed and Bean,
Corby; 01536266686
Emma and Rory McCabe Proper Pub Co, Old,
01604 780147
Artisan Local Drink of the Year
Sponsor
Winner
Lord Barker, Gun Dog Ales,
Woodford Halse; 01327 264095
Runner-up
Hardwick Elderflower Cordial, Manor Farm Drinks,
Hardwick; 07817 377248
Finalists
Jack’s Spaniels Gun Dog Ales,
Woodford Halse; 01327 264095
Organic Pomegranate & Rosemary Vodka Jelley Distilleries,
Brixworth; 01604 882342
Roobarb & Custard Cream Ale Boot Town Brewery,
Burton Latimer; 01536 725212
Saxon Shield Towcester Mill Brewery,
Towcester; 01327 437060
Artisan Local Savoury Product of the Year
Sponsor
Winner
Free Range Chicken, Sage & Onion Sausage Roll,
Pastures Poultry Farm Shop & Cafe, Yardley Hastings; 07701 089513
Winner
Finalists
Free Range Smoked Back Bacon, Waterloo Cottage Farm,
Great Oxendon; 01858 467158
Finalists
Phipps Firkin Neneview Dairy,
Stanwick, 01933 355169
The Saint, slow-braised beef and horseradish pie,
Miss Millie’s Pies (Most Marvellous Baking), Northampton; 01604 720884
Tikka Masala Curry Base Punjaban,
Northampton; 01604 790070
Artisan Local Sweet Product of the Year
Sponsor
Winner
Apple with a Blackberry Ripple Ice Cream, Ganders Goat,
Cottingham; 07786 981609
Runner-up
Gin & Orange Marmalade, Friars Farm,
Northampton; 07763 841550
Highly Commended
Mango Caramel Popcorn What’s Poppin’ Corn,
Northampton; 07833 252952
Finalists
Chocolate Tiffin, Connie’s Tea Parlour/Sara Jayne Catering,
Holdenby; 07845 879262
Vicky’s, Lime & Chocolate Drizzle Cake,
Radmore Farm Shop, Litchborough; 07921 856967
Artisan Local Vegetarian/Vegan Product of the Year
Sponsor
Winner
The Squire, potato, cheese, spinach & onion pie
Miss Millie’s Pies (Most Marvellous Baking), Northampton; 01604 720884
Runner-up
Vegan Peanut Butter Cookie Sandwich
Connie’s Tea Parlour/Sara Jayne Catering, Holdenby; 07845 879262
Finalists
Chocolate & Cherry Cake with Coconut Cream,
Sol Laug Havens CIC, Moulton; 01604 307783
Little Bars of Happiness (chocolate, apricot and orange);
The Happy Little Cake Company, Northampton; 01604 720884
Munchable Multiseed Dippers Most Marvellous Baking, Northampton; 01604 720884
Sticky Toffee Pudding Flo’s Kitchen, Northampton; 07792 319798
Booker Food Pub of the Year
Sponsor
Winner
The White Horse,
Kings Sutton; 01295 812440
Runner-up
The Red Lion,
East Haddon; 01604 770223
Finalists
The Plough,
Shutlanger; 01604 864644
The Red Lion,
Culworth; 01295 760050
The Tollemache Arms,
Harrington; 01536 711770
Booker Young Chef of the Year
Sponsor
Winner
Arturs Dzerins,
The Hopping Hare, Northampton; 01604 580090
Runner-up
Emily Foster,
Fawsley Hall Hotel and Spa, Fawsley; 01327 892000
Finalists
Deniz Gultes,
Murrays at Whittlebury Hall, Whittlebury; 01327 850457
Kenny Markham,
The Church Restaurant, Northampton; 01604 603800
William Podbury,
The Red Lion, Thornby; 01604 740238
Chef of the Year
Sponsor
Winner
Harvey Lockwood,
Murrays at Whittlebury Hall, Whittlebury; 01327 850457
Runner-up
Grant Wentzel,
The Hopping Hare, Northampton; 01604 580090
Finalists
William Mountain Stonewalls Catering,
Long Buckby; 07951 702343
James Peck Burnt Lemon Catering,
Finedon; 07432 355106
Samuel Squires Restaurant Hibiscus,
Northampton; 01604 911073
Community Pub of the Year
Sponsor
Winner
Barratts Club,
Northampton; 01604 721777
Runner-up
The Red Lion,
Thornby; 01604 740238
Finalists
Knightley Arms,
Yelvertoft; 01788 823555
The Royal Oak,
Cogenhoe; 01604 890922
Towcester Mill Brewery Tap Room,
Towcester; 01327 437060
Farming Innovation Award
Sponsor
Winner
Courteenhall Farms,
Courteenhall
Runner-up
Waterloo Cottage Farm,
Great Oxendon
Finalists
East Lodge Farm,
Ecton
Turney Partners,
Quinton
Great Service Award
Sponsor
Winner
The Red Lion,
Culworth; 01295 760050
Runner-up
The Tollemache Arms,
Harrington; 01536 711770
Healthy Eating Workplace of the Year
Sponsor
Winner
Travis Perkins,
(Lodge Farm) Northampton
Runner-up
John Lewis Plc,
Northampton
Finalists
Baxter Healthcare,
Northampton
St Andrew’s Healthcare,
Northampton
Independent Café/Tea Room of the Year
Sponsor
Winner
The Water Mill Tearooms,
Ringstead; 01933 770630
Runner-up
Pastures Poultry Farm Shop & Café,
Yardley Hastings; 01604 696586
Finalists
Dapper Sandwich Company,
Northampton; 01604 621881
Dreams Coffee Lounge,
Northampton; 01604 636368
Forget Me Not Café,
Moulton; 01604 499597
New Local Drink of the Year
Sponsor
Winner
Rubio Towcester Mill Brewery,
Towcester; 01327 437060
Runners-up
Opal Gin Phipps NBC,
Northampton; 01604 946606
X-Strong Ale Hoppy Family Brewery,
Kettering; 07986 01957
Finalists
Donkey Derby Healy’s of Winwick,
Winwick; 07811 284392
Hustle Gin Hustle Gin,
Horton; 01604 870451
Raspberry & Coconut Cake Cream Ale Boot Town Brewery,
Burton Latimer; 01536 725212
One to Watch
Sponsor
Winner
Boot Town Brewery,
Burton Latimer; 01536 725212
Runner-up
Tea Lab Company,
Northampton; 01604 760480
Finalists
Hustle Gin,
Horton; 01604 870451
The Shimmy Shimmy Co,
Culworth; 07837 866533
Restaurant of the Year
Sponsor
Winner
The Palmichael,
Burton Latimer; 01536 723641
Runner-up
Murrays,
Whittlebury Hall Whittlebury; 01327 850489
Finalists
Bread and Pullet,
Northampton; 01604 638520
Nuovo,
Northampton; 01604 601100
Restaurant Hibiscus,
Northampton; 01604 911073
The Cedar Restaurant,
Fawsley Hall Fawsley; 01327 892000
Royal Showstopper of the Year
Sponsor
Winners
Jeyes of Earls Barton,
Earls Barton; 01604 810289
Workbridge Coffee Shop,
Northampton; 01604 872785
Finalists
Bills Edible Art,
Northampton; 01604 211151
Little White Cakery,
Rushden; 07723 959240
Nutty and Nice Cakes,
Wootton; 07886 926290
Silverstone Circuits,
Silverstone; 01327 320357
Weetabix Local Food Hero of the Year
Sponsor
Winner
Dean Hoddle,
Silverstone Circuits Silverstone; 01327 320357
Runner-up
Green Acres Rural Enterprise Centre,
Staverton; 01327 703313
Chris Twell,
Neneview Dairy Stanwick; 01933 355169
Finalists
Natasha Caton,
Sol Laug Havens CIC Moulton; 01604 307783
Stan Roberston,
Project 16:15 Northampton; 07576 162211
Squisito Butchers and Provisions,
Yelvertoft; 07544 428165
World Cuisine Restaurant of the Year
Sponsor
Winner
Voujon,
Long Buckby; 01327 843571
Runner-up
Oren Pho,
Northampton; 01604 373489
Finalists
Ali’s Restaurant,
Wellingborough; 01933 223171
Mayflower Restaurant,
Northampton; 01604 601522
Mem Saab,
Northampton; 01604 630214
Saffron,
Northampton; 01604 630800
A Celebration and Recognition of Excellence within
Northamptonshire's Food and Drink Sector
The Winners 2018/2019
The winners of all the categories were presented with trophies which had been specially designed by the Northampton firm Trinity Engineering – the figure 10 depicted as a bottle and plate to represent a decade of the Awards which was crafted out of tin, the metal traditionally associated with tenth anniversary gifts – by the evening’s special guest, the former Masterchef winner, author and Wahaca restaurant group owner, Thomasina Miers and Awards Patrons William Sitwell and Sophie Grigson.
For the team from The Water Mill Tearooms in Ringstead, winning the title of ‘Independent Café / Tea Room of the Year’ came as something of a pleasant surprise, as owner Iona Campbell explained: “We only opened the venue last year so to have this stamp of approval from such a recognised competition at such an early stage and at the first time of asking means the world to us and we couldn’t be more thrilled!
“The beautiful trophy will now go in pride of place in the café and we can’t wait to show it off not only to our existing loyal customers but also to all those new faces we’re expecting to see who’ll now be wanting to come and try us for themselves!” she enthused.
The evening began with formal welcomes from Awards Director, Rachel Mallows MBE DL of The Mallows Company and Bruce Ray, VP Corporate Affairs and Independent on Trade (interim) with headline sponsors, Carlsberg UK before guests then enjoyed a sumptuous three course meal designed and created by Lee Scott, executive chef at Whittlebury Hall, and aided by a team of culinary students from Northampton College who switched their regular classes for the experience of being part of the prestigious occasion – but not before broadcaster, author and former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Reverend Richard Coles had said grace.
Befitting a celebration of the excellence of the county’s food and drink sector, the menu included a wealth of Northamptonshire ingredients, including a game terrine made using duck from award winners, Pastures Poultry Farm at Yardley Hastings, venison from Rutting Reds at Hannington as well as chutney from Northampton’s Friars Farm and goat cheese from Stanwick’s Neneview Dairy.
The local offering also continued into the puddings which used apples from New Creation Farm, blueberries from Mee Farmers at Nassington and chocolate from Corby’s Seed and Bean, accompanied by dessert wine generously provided by Amps Wine Merchants of Oundle, before concluding with petits fours generously provided by Belflair Chocolates of Brackley and tea courtesy of the Northampton’s Tea Lab Company, which also created a special tenth anniversary tea blend called ‘The Mallows’ for guests to take home.
As well as learning the results of the twenty categories, guests heard how Atul Kocchar, Britain’s first Indian chef to be awarded a Michelin Star, had reacted after he had been involved as a judge at the Booker Young Chef of the Year cook-off final back in September.
Praising the talents of the five finalists involved, Atul admired their creativity, skills and calmness under pressure as they took on their two-hour cooking challenge, and paid tribute to the Awards and their impact on the sector over the last decade, something of which, he said, Northamptonshire should be most proud.
Those were sentiments echoed by Thomasina who spoke from experience of the value of competitive success following her television victory – which she admitted came despite her having served lumpy mashed potato to judge John Torode in the first episode! – and commended the Awards by congratulating all of those gathered for the evening’s celebration – whether finalists, sponsors, supporters or partners – for helping to create a spectacular culmination to its first ten years.
There was also a special presentation from the Lord Lieutenant of Northamptonshire, David Laing, who announced that the ‘Northamptonshire – Britain’s Best Surprise!’ marketing campaign would focus on the food and drink sector in 2019, pledging to bring the county’s culinary excellence to national attention.
For more details on the competition, including the chance to watch the videos of Atul Kocchar and the cook-offs, please visit the videos page of this website or contact Rachel Mallows on 01933 664437 or email Rachel using this link
You can also follow the Awards on twitter and Instagram at @foodawardsHQ or on Facebook at facebook.com/foodawards
Weetabix Northamptonshire
Food and Drink Awards
The Mallows Company (07103621)
A Celebration and Recognition of Excellence within
Northamptonshire's Food and Drink Sector