IF the first completed judging session of more than 20 in the Carlsberg UK Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards’ calendar could be compared with a tasting menu, then the hors d’oeuvres have certainly already set the tastebuds tingling.
Indeed, having launched the competition at the end of March, and with many of the categories still open for entry, the next few months promise a continuing, mouthwatering mix of mystery shopping visits, shortlisting tasting sessions and cook-offs.
Rachel Mallows MBE of The Mallows Company is the Awards’ Director and says she’s thrilled with the involvement that this, the ninth year of the awards, is attracting.
“Over the last eight years, we have seen a growing pride among our finalists and winners in being able to display that now highly recognisable, black and white logo, and so to receive greater interest from pubs, cafes, chefs and food and drink producers year on year is really encouraging,” said Rachel.
“We’ll being announcing the results of our earliest shortlistings over the coming weeks and are confident that, thanks to the support of the county’s foodies who use our findings as a benchmark, those finalists will get a real boost in business.
“And with many more categories remaining open for entry, I’d urge potential entrants to act quickly before it’s too late.”
Among those categories still taking entries are those for Healthy Eating Workplace (see below), Community Pub, and One to Watch, the new category introduced this year thanks to the support of Whitworth Bros Ltd Flour Millers in Wellingborough, which aims to shine a spotlight on those emerging food and drink producers who look set to have a marked impact on the wider sector in years to come.
In addition, it’s not too late to submit your nomination for F&B Achiever of Year (sponsored by Howes Percival LLP) and the Weetabix Local Food Hero category (see below).
To download entry or nomination forms for those categories, visit the awards website at www.northamptonshirefoodandrink.co.uk or for more information on all of the categories in the competition, call 01933 664437 or email rachel@themallowscompany.com
You can also follow the awards on twitter at @foodawardsHQ and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/foodawards
Nominate your Local Food Hero
Previous winners include a village shop staffed by the local community, a dairy farmer whose early alarm clock had been ringing for 40 years and a cafe which serves food which would otherwise go to waste – and now, with the search on for this year’s Local Food Hero, it’s your chance to help decide who takes home the prestigious title in the 2017/18 Awards.
The Weetabix Local Food Hero of the Year is sponsored by the Burton Latimer-based breakfast cereal company and supported by Northamptonshire CPRE and invites nominations from the public for those individuals or businesses which go further than most in promoting local food or keeping down food miles.
Indeed, the category is the only one of those in the competition operated by public nomination and, as such, Northamptonshire CPRE’s Education and Development Manager Sally Hanrahan, says it holds a special place in the Awards.
She said: “What make this award so important is that there are some wonderful people and businesses right across the county doing what they can to maintain the value of local food in our rural communities, but often they’re too modest to put themselves forward for such an accolade.
“So for members of the public to ensure that those great stories are heard and celebrated is really important and I’d like to urge everyone to submit a simple nomination and help ensure that our local food heroes get the recognition that they deserve.”
To nominate a business or an individual whom you believe deserves a public pat on the back for their efforts, whether it’s your local butcher, a community food project or perhaps your favourite farm shop or delicatessen, download a nomination form from the awards website – www.northamptonshirefoodanddrink.co.uk – or simply call the Awards team on 01933 664437. The closing date for nominations is 24 July.
Anyone for – fruit?
Meanwhile, as the country finds itself back in the grips of tennis fever, it’s perhaps timely to remember that former Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic once saw his victorious streak dry up simply because of his diet.
It was only after the gluten and dairy intolerant Serb cut out foods which were making him ill that, hey presto, he was back in winning ways – proving just how vital what we eat is to our health and wellbeing.
Which is why Northamptonshire County Council is again sponsoring the Healthy Eating Workplace of the Year category in this year’s awards – one designed to recognise those workplaces which show real commitment to providing a healthy food offering for its workforce with dishes that are nutritious, good value – and tasty.
The category, whose results will be announced alongside those of all the categories at this year’s glittering awards dinner in November, is part of the county council’s 2020 Northamptonshire programme, which aims to make ours a happier and healthier county by the end of the decade.
Last year the Healthy Eating Workplace title went to St Andrew’s Healthcare in Northampton and its Head of Restaurants and Catering, Gareth Waters, says the company is proud to have been so successful.
“We are delighted that, after being a finalist in 2014 and named runner-up in 2015, we went one better by winning this prestigious award as it shows that the work we put into the products that we stock and the initiatives that we have taken to promote healthy eating has really paid off,” said Gareth.
“I am so proud of the catering team who deserve this public pat on the back and would urge other businesses to enter to ensure that they get the recognition they deserve for helping to keep their staff fit and well.”
Meanwhile Cllr Sylvia Hughes, the county council’s cabinet member for public health and wellbeing, said: “We know that organisations and employers that focus on health and wellbeing achieve reduced sickness absence, improved productivity and reduced staff turnover, while employees themselves feel more motivated, healthier and less stressed.
“That is why I’m delighted Northamptonshire County Council is once again sponsoring the Healthy Eating Workplace category in this year’s competition and I look forward to seeing the entries.”
Those are sentiments echoed by Awards’ Director Rachel, who is hoping for food initiatives to rival the standard of last year’s entrants. She said: “Among the innovative ideas we saw were a company which had introduced a superfoods salad bar, a canteen which charges more money the more calories you have and even one which set its staff a pedometer challenge, with those meeting their steps target being rewarded with time off.
“Give that, for so many, lunch at work is the key meal of the day, we want to give food for thought to companies about how they should be supporting their staff as well as celebrate those whose efforts in providing great tasting, nutritious food mean a healthy and ultimately productive workforce.”
If you think your staff restaurant or canteen should be praised for its healthy menu, call the awards office on 01933 664437 or email rachel@themallowscompany.com Alternatively businesses can enter directly for free by downloading an entry form from the awards’ website – www.northamptonshirefoodanddrink.co.uk The closing date is Monday 8 August.
Mystery shopper search still on…
Finally, with the number of dining venues entering the competition expected to be its biggest yet, the awards team is still looking for willing volunteers to become secret diners, visiting one (or more) of the participating eateries and completing a review, based on every aspect of your dining experience – from the quality of the food, to the standard of service and even the state of the ‘facilities’.
So, if you are available between now and mid-August, are happy to pick up the cost of your visit(s) and would like to help the awards team in raising dining standards here in the county – or would simply like to find out more – contact Anna at The Mallows Company on 01933 664437 or email anna@themallowscompany.com
