Artisan Local Vegetarian/Vegan Product category sponsor Daily Bread in Northampton hosted the announcement of the results of this year’s Weetabix Northamptonshire Food & Drink Awards artisan producer categories.
Along with J Sweeney Accountants and Heygates Flour and Animal Feed, sponsors of Artisan Local Drink and Artisan Local Product respectively, it was an opportunity to spread the word that buying local is good for the economy and tastes good too.
Morcea Walker MBE, Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Northamptonshire and Kristina Rhianoff (former Strictly dancer and co-owner of Soo Yoga in Northampton) joined the celebrations to add their support to the finalists. The Bronze, Silver and Gold winners were presented with their certificates, and the Gold winners will be eligible to enter the Guild of Fine Foods Great Taste Awards in 2024. The early announcements of these three categories was instigated during Covid to ensure that Bronze, Silver and Gold winners can promote their win during the summer.
Rachel Mallows MBE, Awards Director, said:
“This has been an amazing year for our three produce and drink categories. At every stage of judging I have received such praise for the wares of our county. There is real innovation in these 21 products and several second-stage judges just couldn’t believe how representative they were of the county and what a strong regional offering we have. In fact, I asked judges to identify three to five finalists and all three categories decided on seven!”
The winners are:
Artisan Local Vegetarian/Vegan Product of the Year 2023/24, sponsored by Daily Bread
- Bronze: The Tollemache Arms – Harrington Wild Garlic Butter; Shoots & Spores – Fresh Oyster Mushrooms; Urban Microgreens – Salad Mix; Dovely Bakery – Rose Cottage Multi Seed Loaf
- Silver: Hamm Tun Fine Foods – Northamptonshire Blue; Sophisticake Creations – Carrot, Parsnip and Pecan Cake
- Gold: Mill House at The Old Stable Yard Tea Room – Strawberry & Rose Cake
Emily Armstrong from Mill House at The Old Stable Yard Team Room said:
“It means absolutely everything to me, I started this four years ago and it’s an amazing achievement from where I came from, never being able to make a cake to now having an award-winning cake, it’s just incredible. I couldn’t be happier!”
Artisan Local Product of the Year, sponsored by Heygates Flour and Animal Feed
- Bronze: Made by the Beekeeper – New Lodge Vineyard Chili Honey; Friars Farm – Lemon Curd; Duston Village Bakery – Steak Pasty; F.F Tee Bakery – Northampton Cheesecake
- Silver: Hamm Tun Fine Foods – Shoetown Blue; The Boughton Estate – Boughton Estate Homemade Honey
- Gold: Your Cool – Coffee Ice Cream
Jo Rutherford from Your Cool said:
“This really means everything to me, I can’t quite believe it. I’m concentrating on using local ingredients in my products and I want to continue to do this. This is the reward I needed to show I’m doing something right.”
Artisan Local Drink of the Year 2023/24 sponsored by J Sweeney Accountants
- Bronze: Winwick Hall Bruce Green Limited – Winwick Hall Methode Champenoise; Phipps Northampton Brewery Co Ltd – Phipps Foundry Mild; Three Hills Brewing Ltd – Heidrun Session NEIPA; Bearly Organised Ltd – Paw Another
- Silver: Mee Blueberries – Blueberry Juice; Wild & Furrow – Oat Drink
- Gold: Silverstone Distillery – Club 80 Navy Strength London Dry Gin
Joe Mayhew from Silverstone Distillery said:
“To win this award is incredible because you have a group of strangers who don’t know you, they’ve tried your product and chosen it from many other vendors. I’m incredibly proud, emotional and super privileged.”
The remaining categories will be announced at the Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards ceremony, to be held on Wednesday, November 1 at Northampton’s Royal & Derngate.
For more details of this year’s competition, or for tickets, call Lyn Mole on 01933 664437 or email Lyn@themallowscompany.com
Follow the awards on Twitter and Instagram at @foodawardsHQ or on Facebook at @foodawards or LinkedIn at @weetabixnfadawards
