SOME of the county’s finest chefs, pubs, cafes, farmers and producers have just days to wait to learn if they will be among the winners at this year’s Carlsberg UK Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards.
The culmination of this, the tenth year of the competition, is a black tie dinner at Northampton’s Royal & Derngate on Wednesday 7 November and, as revealed in last month’s Business Times, special guest and former Masterchef winner Thomasina Miers will be presenting the trophies to those vying for the prestigious titles – among them Booker Young Chef of the Year, Farming Innovation Award and this year’s new category, Artisan Local Vegetarian / Vegan Product of the Year.
The full list of finalists is on the Awards website – www.northamptonshirefoodanddrink.co.uk – and among those who have the nervous wait are those in the four venues categories, Restaurant of the Year, Booker Food Pub of the Year, World Cuisine Restaurant of the Year and Independent Cafe/Tea Room of the Year and the respective finalists are (in alphabetical order in each category):
Restaurant of the Year (sponsored by Whitco Catering and Bakery Equipment): Bread and Pullet, Northampton; Murrays at Whittlebury Hall, Whittlebury; Nuovo, Northampton; Restaurant Hibiscus, Northampton; The Cedar Restaurant at Fawsley Hall, Fawsley and
The Palmichael, Burton Latimer
Booker Food Pub of the Year (sponsored by Booker): The Plough, Shutlanger; The Red Lion, Culworth; The Red Lion, East Haddon; The Tollemache Arms, Harrington and The White Horse, Kings Sutton
World Cuisine Restaurant of the Year (sponsored by British Pepper & Spice): Ali’s Restaurant, Wellingborough; Mayflower Restaurant, Northampton; Memsaab, Northampton; Oren Pho, Northampton; Saffron, Northampton and Voujon, Long Buckby
Independent Cafe / Tea Room of the Year (sponsored by Pidy UK): Dapper Sandwich Company, Northampton; Dreams Coffee Lounge, Northampton; Forget Me Not Cafe, Moulton; Pastures Poultry Farm Shop & Cafe, Yardley Hastings and The Water Mill Tearooms, Ringstead
Despite not being shortlisted, Sage and Brooke in Grafton Underwood was also awarded a Highly Commended in the Restaurant of the Year category.
Among the finalists this year are some new names as well as a number of venues which have previously been shortlisted and, in some cases, been runner-up or indeed winners of their category and the Awards Director Rachel Mallows MBE believes that best reflects the prestige in which the competition is now held: “It’s really great to see that those who’ve benefited from success previously have been keen to repeat that by entering this year as it just goes to show what a difference being able to display that finalist logo has meant to their business.
“But what’s also wonderful is that our shortlists contain some names which will be unfamiliar to those who’ve followed the competition over the last nine years, and whether they’re first time entrants or those who’ve tried unsuccessfully in the past, it simply goes to show how standards of dining in the county are consistently rising.
“So I’m very proud of the efforts of all those who entered and thrilled for these 22 finalists and would urge anyone who loves eating out to go and try them for themselves.”
Having already been secretly assessed twice as part of the shortlisting process, the finalists in each category are currently being visited by two external mystery shoppers who will score them on everything from staff knowledge of the menu to use of local ingredients, speed of service, and of course the quality of the food itself.
For obvious reasons, the identities of the mystery shoppers are being kept under wraps but the happy task has previously been performed by the likes of TV chef and awards patron Sophie Grigson and the former editor of the Good Food Guide, Jim Ainsworth.
To discover the finalists in all the categories in the Carlsberg UK Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards 2018/19, visit the Awards’ website – www.northamptonshirefoodanddrink.co.uk – or email Rachel Mallows at or call 01933 664437.
You can also follow the awards on Twitter and Instagram at @foodawardsHQ or on Facebook at facebook.com/foodawards
The full results from the awards will be available in the December issue of Business Times.