The Magnificent Devon!
WINNERS OF THE ESTEEMED FOOD & DRINK DEVON AWARDS ANNOUNCED
Devon is truly magnificent. At last night’s annual Food & Drink Devon Awards the pinnacle of the county’s food and drink producers, hospitality businesses and speciality retailers celebrated in fantastic style at the Deer Park Country House Hotel. The ceremony was hosted, for the third year running, by BBC Radio 2's utterly brilliant Nigel Barden.
There was fierce competition in the ‘Taste of Devon Producer Awards’ for the coveted ‘Best Producer’ Award. Salcombe Distilling Co. was announced the winner with judges commenting that Salcombe Gin has ‘clean, unique and well thought through packaging and the product is beautifully rounded, balanced, smooth and elegant’. In addition, ‘the website has great imagery and interesting content’ and their social media was described as ‘faultless’.
South Milton’s Bell & Loxton claimed the ‘Best Packaging’ Award for its ‘striking, contemporary, standout branding’ on its Cold Pressed Rapeseed Oil. The ‘Best Retailer’ Award went to the Aune Valley Meats, whilst the ‘Best Online Retailer’ was awarded to Riverford Organic Farmers.
During the judging of over 200 products in the ‘Taste of Devon’ Awards there was one product which really stood out and received the only ‘Platinum’ Award given - Chocolate Heaven Made in Devon’s Rich Vanilla Fudge. Judges described it as ‘simply perfect’.
Barbara King, chair of Food & Drink Devon, comments: “During my first year as Chair I've been so impressed with the quality of the entrants into the awards. It is a fantastic reflection of the high standard of what's on offer in the county. The Awards this year received over 200 product entries, 16 entries in the ‘Retail’ Awards and 61 entries in the ‘Hospitality’ Awards, showing the strength and depth of food and drink in Devon.” Barbara continues: “The local community here in Devon takes such pride in what it produces and is fiercely patriotic about the West Country, whilst the county’s hospitality and retail businesses strive to support these local producers. Both the producers and the industry on the whole have exacting standards which is matched with a high level of entrepreneurialism, innovation and hard work, helping to create an environment which produces the very best. Devon is lucky too because the climate and the nutritional values within the soil makes this a superb county for growing, rearing and producing food.”
On a final note, Barbara adds: “As an organisation, we have a moral duty to promote Devon businesses and produce beyond our borders. We're very proud of what we do and are now strongly building awareness and recognition across the UK and further afield.”
In the ‘Casual Dining’ Awards The Journeys End in Ringmore was the proud winner of the ‘Best Pub’ Award with the judges describing the food as having ‘mouth-watering aromas and excellent mixture of flavours, everyone should have a chance to eat here’. The ‘Best Bistro’ Award went to The Hotel Bar at Arundell Arms in Lifton and The Pantry in Kingsbridge won the ‘Best Café’ category. The Teign Canteen, which is a mobile street food kitchen in a converted 1977 Citroen van, took home the ‘Best Street Food’ Award.
This year’s highly prestigious ‘Best Fine Dining Restaurant’ was awarded to Thurlestone Hotel, with judges commenting that ‘the beautifully presented dishes demonstrated a clear love of food, all cooked to perfection’.
Celebrating the best of fine dining other ‘Formal Dining’ Awards went to the exceptional Fatbelly Fred’s in Barnstaple who won the highly sought after ‘Best Restaurant’ Award, the chic and romantic Kentisbury Grange on the edge of Exmoor National Park triumphed as the ‘Best Hotel Restaurant’ and the Victoria Inn in Salcombe was victorious in the ‘Best Pub Restaurant’ category.
Following feedback from previous awards, two new categories have been created this year, therefore involving more members of Devon’s vibrant food and drink scene. ‘Best Cookery School’ went to Salcombe Distilling Co. for their recently launched Gin School and the Crediton Farmers Market was named ‘Best Farmers Market’ with judges’ commenting ‘a busy market with a great atmosphere’.
Commenting on the Awards, BBC Radio 2's Nigel Barden, says: “I’m a huge fan of Devon and am thrilled to be involved with the Food & Drink Devon Awards for the third year running." He continues: "The county is full of talented, enthusiastic and passionate food and drink producers, gifted chefs and focused retailers. It has so much to offer both those living in the region and visitors from further afield. These awards are a credit to all those who have entered and to the organisation itself."
Kind sponsors of this year’s Awards include Luscombe Drinks, Stephens Scown Solicitors, Peplows Chartered Accountants, RAW PR & Marketing, M.C Kelly, Black & White Asset Finance, Zip Water, exclusive media sponsor Taste Buds and print sponsors Inkreadible Labels and Hedgerow Print.
Full List of Food & Drink Devon Award Winners 2017
Taste of Devon ‘Gold’ Award Winners
Bays Brewery: TOPSAIL
Bell & Loxton: BASIL OIL
Chocolate Heaven Made In Devon: SALTED CARAMEL LIQUEUR TRUFFLE
Chunk of Devon: CHEDDAR & ONION PASTY
Chunk of Devon: CHICKEN, LEEK & BACON PIE
Chunk of Devon: SQUEALER PORK PIE
Chunk of Devon: THE STEAK PASTY
Churston Traditional Farm shop: BEEF & STILTON PASTY
Continental Crumbs: MORNING CRUNCH BISCUITS
Dartmoor Chilli Farm: DARTMOOR GOBLIN
Dartmoor Distillery: BLACK DOG GIN
Devon Distillery: DEVON GRAPPA
Eversfield Organic: BEEF FILLET STEAK
Eversfield Organic: HONEY SMOKED STREAKY BACON
Favis of Salcombe: 100% HAND PICKED BROWN CRAB MEAT
Favis of Salcombe: 100% HAND PICKED DRESSED CRAB
Favis of Salcombe: 100% HAND PICKED WHITE CRAB MEAT
Hanlons Brewery: STORMSTAY
Happy Butter: ORGANIC BUTTER GHEE
Hunters Brewery: DEVON MAID
Hunt's Cider: WOBBLER CIDER
Lyme Bay Winery: BACCHUS BLOCK
Lyme Bay Winery: BLANC DE NOIRS
Otter Garden Centres: RASPBERRY JAM
Otter Garden Centres: STRAWBERRY JAM
Rocks Drinks: SPARKLING ELDERFLOWER
Ruth's Real Food: CAPONATA - SICILIAN VEGETABLE STEW (VEGAN)
Ruth's Real Food: HOMEMADE CHRISTMAS PUDDING
Ruth's Real Food: STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING
Salcombe Dairy: HONEYCOMB ICE CREAM
Salcombe Distilling Co: START POINT GIN
Sharpham Wine & Cheese: WASHBOURNE
South Hams Brewery: BLACK & WHITE
South Devon Chilli Farm: COOL JALAPENO SALSA
The Well Hung Meat Co: LAMB CHOPS
Tideford Organic Foods: FRESH BROWN RICE MISO
Toms Pies: CHICKEN & LEEK PIE
Waterhouse Fayre: SEVILLE MARMALADE
Yarde Cider: REAL CIDER
Taste of Devon ‘Platinum’ Award Winner
Producer: Chocolate Heaven Made in Devon
Product: RICH VANILLA FUDGE
Best Producer
Salcombe Distilling Co., Salcombe
Best Packaging
Bell & Loxton, South Milton, near Kingsbridge
Taste of Devon Hospitality Award Winners
Best Fine Dining Restaurant
Thurlestone Hotel, near Kingsbridge
Best Restaurant
Fatbelly Fred’s, Barnstaple
Best Hotel Restaurant
Kentisbury Grange, Barnstaple
Best Pub Restaurant
Victoria Inn, Salcombe
Best Pub
The Journey’s End Inn, Ringmore
Best Bistro
The Hotel Bar at Arundell Arms, Lifton
Best Café
The Pantry, Kingsbridge
Best Street Food
The Teign Canteen
Taste of Devon Retail Award Winners
Best Retailer
Aune Valley Meats, Loddiswell, near Kingsbridge
Best Online Retailer
Riverford Organic Farmers, Staverton
New Awards for 2017
Best Cookery School
Salcombe Distilling Co. Gin School
Best Farmers Market
Crediton Farmers Market