Diaries should be ready across the food and drink sector, with a range of closing dates for this year’s Weetabix Northamptonshire Food & Drink Awards coming up over the next few months.
The awards, now in their sixteenth year, turn the spotlight on local culinary excellence, recognising and celebrating the county’s brilliant people, places and producers, and invite entries across 18 categories including Booker Young Chef of the Year, and Restaurant of the Year, sponsored by Greedy Gordons Pub Group.
The awards are a reward for those who work so hard locally, rising to the not insignificant challenges facing the hospitality sector, and keeping Northamptonshire firmly on the foodie map of England. And the public can do their bit to ensure their favourites are in the running.
Awards Director Rachel Mallows MBE said:
“We rely on recommendations, nominations and inside information about the best of the best in the county – where to eat, what to eat and who is making a real difference within the sector. That process is simple – just email the awards team, message them through social media or give them a call with your favourites.”
The awards programme runs from the launch in March until the awards dinner on October 17 with closing dates running throughout that period. Dependent upon the category, entrants can submit an entry themselves or be nominated. That means, if you know of a particularly fine chef or local food hero, business, venue or producer categories you can make sure they are a part of the competition.
The Farming Environment Award and the Food and Drink College Student categories have now closed and the Artisan Local Drink, Vegetarian/Vegan Product and Artisan Local Product categories have a closing date of May 10, so there’s not much time left. These categories are open to all small producers in the county but, as for all categories, the 2023 Gold winners cannot reapply this year.
The Chef and Young Chef categories close on June 7, with their associated venue categories (World Cuisine, Booker Gastro Pub, Restaurant and Community Café) closing on June 21.
Those wishing to enter or nominate in the business categories – F&B Achiever and One to Watch – have until July 12; and the Healthy Food and Wellbeing, Weetabix Sustainability and Outstanding Contribution categories close on July 19. The Portfolio Canapé Competition, open to college students across the county, closes on July 12. Rachel added:
“In addition to looking for entries and nominations, we are always looking for volunteers to help us decide on the winners. Last year our volunteer Mystery Shoppers racked up some 500 hours of their time visiting venues and giving feedback that is invaluable in deciding the winners. If anyone would like to find out more about how they can help us as one of our team of Mystery Shoppers, they should contact the team.
“And, of course, the competition would not be possible without the sponsors who are all working hard to promote and support the sector to grow and thrive.”
To make a nomination please see www.northamptonshirefoodanddrink.co.uk or email awards@northamptonshirefoodanddrink.co.uk or telephone the Awards team on 01933 664437.
The categories and sponsors are as follows:
Artisan Local Drink of the Year
Sponsored by Warner’s Distillery
Artisan Local Product of the Year
Sponsored by Heygates Flour and Animal Feed Millers
Artisan Local Vegetarian /Vegan Product of the Year
Sponsored by Daily Bread Cooperative
Booker Gastro Pub of the Year
Sponsored by Booker
Booker Young Chef of the Year
Sponsored by Booker
Canapé Competition
Sponsored by Portfolio Events
Community Café of the Year
Sponsored by West Northamptonshire Council Public Health
Farming Environment Award
Sponsored by Weetabix
F&B Achiever of the Year
Sponsored by J Sweeney Accountants
Food and Drink College Student of the Year
Sponsored by University of Northampton
Healthy Food and Wellbeing Award
Sponsored by Delapré Abbey Preservation Trust
Local Food Hero of the Year
Sponsored by Howes Percival
One To Watch
Sponsored by Whitworth Bros. Ltd Flour Millers
Outstanding Contribution to Food & Drink
Sponsored by All Things Business
Restaurant of the Year
Sponsored by Greedy Gordons
Weetabix Sustainability Award
Sponsored by Weetabix
Whitco Chef of the Year
Sponsored by Whitco Catering & Bakery Equipment Limited
World Cuisine Restaurant of the Year
Sponsored by British Pepper & Spice Co. Ltd
