WITH everything from pies to pickles, beers to biscuits, and juices to jams to tuck into, spare a thought for the judges of the five product and drink categories in this year’s Carlsberg UK Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards who have been sampling and sipping their way through a record number of entries in search of the county’s tastiest treats.
The awards, devised by Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership (NEP) and now in their seventh year, are aimed at celebrating all that is great about local produce and drink, recognising excellence within the county’s dining venues and rewarding
WITH everything from pies to pickles, beers to biscuits, and juices to jams to tuck into, spare a thought for the judges of the five product and drink categories in this year’s Carlsberg UK Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards who have been sampling and sipping their way through a record number of entries in search of the county’s tastiest treats.
The awards, devised by Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership (NEP) and now in their seventh 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 titles of Artisan Local Drink of the Year and New Local Drink of the Year were hotly contested at the first stage judging session held at the reigning Community Pub of the Year – Town – The Malt Shovel Tavern in Northampton – while the kitchens of Holdenby House were positively bursting at the seams, packed with an array of delicious wares vying for the titles of Artisan Local Savoury Product of the Year, sponsored by Heygates Flour and Animal Feed, Artisan Local Sweet Product of the Year, sponsored by Moulton College and New Local Product of the Year, the category sponsored by Whitworth Bros. Ltd Flour Millers.
The results (unavailable at the time the paper was going to print) are now available to view at the awards website – www.northamptonshirefoodanddrink.co.uk – and the competition’s Director, Rachel Mallows of The Mallows Company is urging the county’s foodies to show those companies their support.
“We have some incredibly passionate food and drink producers in the county and this competition is a great way of raising the profile of some of our very best among those looking not only for great taste but also wanting to support local,” said Rachel.
Visitors to both the Northamptonshire Food Show at Holdenby House on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September and the Althorp Food Festival on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 September will have chance to sample the finalists’ wares, while the winners will be announced at the Awards Dinner being staged at Royal & Derngate on Thursday 15 October, alongside those of the other 13 categories.
For more details on all 18 categories in the Carlsberg UK Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards 2015/16, including downloading an entry form in the Healthy Eating Workplace category, visit the awards website at www.northamptonshirefoodanddrink.co.uk or contact Rachel Mallows on 01933 664437 or email
You can also follow the awards on twitter at @foodawardsHQ or on Facebook at facebook.com/foodawards
