Competitions and Awards (17)
I usually leave writing about Michelin Star restaurants to others, but not today. What wonderful news this week to hear that Justin and Jurga Sharp at Pea Porridge have been awarded a MICHELIN STAR. Such happy news for a hard working couple and their team. Bravo! It's A Pea Porridge Sunrise! (We need another poem Justin)
Well done to the East Anglian producers who have scooped 272 Great Taste accolades at this year's awards. Among the Great Taste 3-star winners are a number of products that pack a serious punch, including; Le Rêve Organic Molecular Absinthe from Linden Leaf Botanicals in Cambridge, described as “virtually the perfect expression of absinthe” as the judges enjoyed “pure aniseed-balls on the palate, but backed up by woody, herbal, citrus-noted, warm and spiritous notes”; a coffee and chocolate lover’s dream in the form of 70% Tumaco Colombia Dark Chocolate with Colombian Coffee from Tosier ChocolateMaker in Ipswich, applauded for its ““silky smooth” texture and “wild fruitiness, subtle tobacco hints and perfectly pitched bitter notes”; and the “vibrant and exciting” Blackcurrant Fruit Cream Ice from Alder Tree in Needham Market, declared to be “the essence of blackcurrant”, as one judge said, “the shackles are definitely off with this one… brilliant!” Great Taste is widely acknowledged as the most respected food accreditation scheme for artisan and speciality food producers, check out all the 2020 winners here and the wide range of award winning products which are available to buy in delis, farm shops and independent retail outlets across the country.
- 3 star blackcurrant ice cream from Alder Tree
- 3 star Le Reve Absinthe from Linden Leaf
- 3 star Free Range Norfolk Black Turkey from Morton's in Norfolk
- 3 star Tumaco Columbia Tosier chocolate
http://blog.suffolkfoodie.co.uk/itemlist/category/111-competitions.html?limitstart=0#sigProIdedb23000f2
Good luck to cheese and provisions specialist Slate in Aldeburgh who have been shortlisted for Best Specialist Cheese Shop in the Guild of Fine Food's annual Shop of the Year awards. Two more rounds of judging to go including the dreaded mystery shopper. Results will be announced on 20th September.
Recognising the very best in food and drink in Suffolk, the winners of the Eat Suffolk Food and Drink Awards were revealed at last night's gala ceremony. Such talent out there, such overwhelming support for each other. There truly is a close knit foodie community in Suffolk. It was an honour to be asked to judge.
Organised by Gusto Pronto, The Great Gusto Food Superhero challenge encouraged young diners to use their creativity and come up with an imaginative food superhero. Some fun ideas created! Here are the winners...
The One Bull @ Bury St Edmunds – Jess Lewis (age 10) for Flossie Flash who is super fast and shoots sticky candy floss. Jemima (age 6) for Fruit Girl who throws fruit into the mouth of anyone eating an unhealthy snack and Georgina (age 3) for Flavour Girl and her Flavour Machine who adds delicious flavour to food.
The Cadogan @ Ingham - Megan (age 11) for Bubble Gum Girl who traps villains in bubble gum, Harriet Sykes (age 8) for Super Blueberry who knocks people out for an hour and can fly and Austin Speed (age 4) for Noodle Boy who shoots out laser noodles.
The Crown @ Hartest – Amelia Clarke (age 6) for Captain Carrot who can fly and Mr Strong Apple who has super strength and Oscar (age 1) for Potato Man who mashes and crushes baddies. The pubs tweeted their best entries each week during August using #TheGreatGustoFoodSuperhero if you want to take a look.
The EADT Suffolk Food & Drink Awards 2017 close for entries at midnight on Wednesday 8th March. The EADT Suffolk Food & Drink Awards are a celebration of our flavoursome county. With its proud heritage of farming, coastal fishing and brewing, few places can boast the rich variety of produce found in Suffolk. The county’s producers and purveyors grow, rear, catch and cook some of the best food and drink to be found in Britain. From independent butchers, bakers and farm shops, to neighbourhood pubs, vibrant cafes and fine dining restaurants, the EADT Suffolk Food & Drink Awards recognise and reward them all. Enter or nominate a business now!
Following the success of last year's The Great Gusto Plate Challenge all children who eat at The One Bull, The Cadogan or The Crown are invited to take part in this years #TheGreatGustoGarmentGame to design a new uniform for the Gusto team. There are two categories. 5’s & under. 6’s & over. The competition runs from 30th July – 4th September. One entry per visit and a prize of a £50 voucher for the winner of each category at each pub. Winning entries will be displayed at each pub. Favourite pictures will be tweeted using #TheGreatGustoGarmentGame throughout the competition. Here is one of the first entries from Amy aged 4.
I'm thrilled to be on the panel of expert judges for the East Anglian Daily Times Suffolk Food and Drink Awards. Every year the judging gets harder with the quality and range of food and drink produced in Suffolk being ever more impressive. Keep an eye on #SAFA website for the categories. In the meantime if you fancy being a category sponsor let us know.
Put your vote where your mouth is. Nominate the plates and places you love in the #OFMAwards.
What a job! Judging for the 2016 EADT Food and Drink Awards was no mean feat. Such difficult decisions to make to whittle down the entry list of fabulous foodies, all from Suffolk, all championing the vibrant and exciting local food scene. It was an honour to take part and judge both the Customer Service Award and The Best Cafe/Tea Room Award. Pictured above are Hannah Huntley and Beth Cook from the gorgeous and now award winning Applaud Cafe. Fellow judge and sponsor Charlotte Smith-Jarvis on the right, presents the award. Take a look at all the wonderful winners and finalists.
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Founded in the USA and brought to the UK by Richard Turner of London butchers Turner and George, Meatopia is a festival of high quality, ethically sourced meat cooked over wood and charcoal in a weekend-long event of meat, drink, fire and music that we covered for SuffolkFoodie last year when we first went to Tobacco Dock for a day out and accidentally found ourselves surrounded by huge hunks of men, throwing huge hunks of meat on huge and hot blazing fires. But this year it was very different! A woman entered the competition to win a chance to cook at the event. And she made a stew. And it was our very own lovely, brave and intrepid Inspector X!! See Mr (or Mrs) Cutlets for the result!
The Mr Cutlets competition was Meatopia's chance for anyone to cook alongside some of the finest chefs from the UK and around the world to showcase a dish this year. The competition ran from 2nd July 2015 to 2nd August 2015 when the team selected a shortlist of six finalists to be invited to London to cook their dish. Two winners were selected from the finalists to cook at Meatopia 2015. Entry to the competition was open to everyone, from members of the public to aspiring young chefs and contestants who needed to supply details of their dish in advance. Inspector X entered and cooked a dish she created for the occassion - we often cook over a camp fire - Red Poll Shin and Tail, and made dumplings on the day. She wasn't selected - but she was the only girl!
Here is something creative and arty to entertain the children eating at The One Bull, Bury St Edmunds, The Cadogan at Ingham or The Crown at Hartest between 24th July and 31st August. Let their imagination and creativity run wild to turn a plate image into an amazing picture.There are two categories – 5’s & under and 6’s & over.There are prizes too with a £50 voucher for the winner of each category at each pub. (one entry per visit).The winning entries will be displayed at each pub. Look out for the pictures being tweeted under the hashtag #TheGreatGustoChallenge. My favourites so far... The Crown Hartest above and this lovely One Bull.
My favourite Masterchef contestant has gone. I liked him from day one when he said his mother said 'don't be surprised when you haven't got any money at university if you spend it all on sea bass'. Just the scrutiny alone is enough to put you off a competition like that. Close-ups of your most awkward and defeated moments; silly mistakes. But he didn't ever make revolting sticky toffee pudding which if I was a judge would have instantly disqualified the contestants the three times it came up. Like chocolate fondant (yawn...) What about other puddings?! St Clements (or Lemon Delicious...) Queen of Puddings, Eve's Pudding, Apple Charlotte?
But let's hear it for Robert, for eating sea bass at university and for all the other 21 year old aspiring cooks in the country who are brave enough to enter and put pansies on their food.
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