Multi-award winning Cumbrian artisan baker Aidan Monks, who operates in the Lake District and Manchester, is jetting off to New York this weekend to judge in the inaugural US edition of the Tiptree World Bread Awards in association with Food is GREAT, and supported by the American Bakers Association.
Aidan will join a panel; of 36 esteemed judges, gathering at the Dumbo Loft, Brooklyn, on 23rd October. The judging panel includes the likes of Lauren Dickerson, the British Vice-Consul, for Food and Drink based in New York and acclaimed award American bakers Zachary Golper and Peiwen Lee.
One thing is for certain the judging panel will have their work cut out on judging day, as they sample the hundreds of entries that have been flooding in to the 13 award categories.
Once the judges make their decisions the US category winners of the Tiptree World Bread Awards with Food is GREAT, will be announced and each winner will receive a bespoke trophy and will then be invited to attend a lavish gala evening being held in New York.
The judges will then spend the intervening period digesting and cogitating before meeting again to announce the overall winner at a glittering gala evening at the Landmark on the Park, Manhattan, on Wednesday 14th November, which will be brim full of industry experts, members of the press and leading figures from the world of food and drink.
Aidan Monks owner of Lovingly Artisan, said: ‘’Having been inspired to become a baker when studying in Boston I know how creative the American artisan baking industry is, especially as they have been at the forefront of baking innovation for years.
“In my time since my US studies I’ve won numerous awards, including a raft of World Bread Awards, so I can really appreciate what these bakers are putting themselves through in crafting their very best breads for the judging process.
“So it’s no surprise that I’m really looking forward to seeing what my American counterparts are capable of crafting and as a result I will be digging a little deeper than most into their understanding of the processes involved in creating nourishing, tasty breads, full of flavour and character.’
‘’I firmly hope that the inaugural US edition of the Tiptree World Bread Awards with Food is GREAT becomes a focal point for the whole American baking industry and provides the opportunity to celebrate the both the individuals and the businesses who are at the cutting edge of the USA’s artisan bakery scene.’’
