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’.

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.

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.

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.