Do you like eating out? Can you tell your bruschetta from your bread roll? Do you know the difference between a divine chardonnay and a duff chenin?
If so, the Carlsberg UK Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards team would love to hear from you.
With the competition launched for its ninth year and with entries already flooding in, the search is on for passionate foodies to become Mystery Shoppers in the four venue categories, those of Restaurant, Spice Restaurant, Booker Food Pub and Independent Cafe/Tea Room of the Year.
The task? Simply to dine at one (or more) of the many eateries involved in the competition and complete a review about your visit, giving scores and passing comments on everything from service and portion size to quality of food and even the state of the toilets.
It is with the help of those reviews that the judging panels then determine the finalists in each of the categories and, as the Awards Director Rachel Mallows explains, that input is invaluable: “Last year we had over a 100 mystery shoppers dine at venues across the county but as the competition grows bigger and better each year, we have more eateries getting involved and that means we need more volunteers see if the proof is in the pudding.
“It is a great responsibility to be one of our mystery shoppers and demands a real palate, so if you feel up to the challenge of such an exciting and immersive experience please get in touch and, who knows, you might just find a hidden gem you’ve never been to before.”
If you are available between June 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
Meanwhile, if you have a favourite pub, restaurant or cafe which you think should be encouraged to take part – for free – in the competition, let the Awards team know, again by calling Anna on 01933 664437.
For more information about this year’s competition, including downloading entry, nomination or register of interest forms, or becoming a sponsor, please visit the Awards’ website – www.northamptonshirefoodanddrink.co.uk or email or call 01933 664437.
You can also follow the Awards on twitter at @foodawardsHQ and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/foodawards