After months of blind tasting, deliberation and judging, the shortlist of finalists for the 2015 Food & Drink Devon Awards have been announced, with the winners revealed at a ceremony in Exeter on Monday 5th October. Entries from across the county included 144 products, 38 producers, 41 hospitality and 6 retail establishments judged by experts from the industry.
Michael Smith, chairman of Food & Drink Devon since 2008, is thrilled with the quality of food and drink brought to the judging table. “We champion Devon's producers and food and drink industry, and this year in particular competition has been tight with standards greatly increased,” he says. “As a county we have so much outstanding produce on offer and the quality of hospitality across the board is also second to none.”
In celebration of Devon's best produce, Platinum awards will be given to any of the 144 tasted products given a perfect score of 100%, Gold awards go to products achieving 91-99%, and Silver to those scoring 85-90%.
There's enormous variety this year on the producer shortlist for the Taste of Devon Product award, with everything from shellfish to rare breed meats, artisan spirits and craft beers, ice creams from both North and South Devon plus traditional Christmas puddings represented.
“As customers get all the more discerning, choosing provenance and traceability over mass-produced food and drink, our independent shops and businesses can really shine,” continues Michael. “Ultimately that is why it is so important we all support our local fishermen, farmers, delis, cafes, chefs and artisans.”
Two well-known butchers, Eversfield Organic and The Well Hung Meat Company, go head to head in the category for Best Online Retailer. Best Retailer will be awarded to either Ashburton Delicatessen, Shaldon's butcher G.T. Orsman or Quickes Farm Shop near Exeter. Producers on the Best Packaging shortlist are Bays Brewery, rapeseed oil producers Bell & Loxton and Devon Distillery's DAPPA.
Establishments on the Taste of Devon Hospitality shortlist include The Horn of Plenty at Gulworthy and Prince Hall Hotel, near Two Bridges on Dartmoor for Best Fine Dining Restaurant. Vying for Best Restaurant status is Salcombe's The Crab Shed, The Mission in Plymouth and Riverford Field Kitchen. As well as Best Hotel Restaurant, Bistro and Best Café categories, there are three businesses hoping to win Best Takeaway: Good Game, The Posh Kebab Company and Two Coast County.
The movers and makers of Devon's food and drink industry will attend the black tie awards ceremony to find out who the winners are for each category after a drinks reception and three-course meal created from food and drink produced by Food & Drink Devon members – all the ingredients for a fabulous night on Monday 5th October 2015 at Exeter Golf & Country Club starting at 6.45pm.
