TV star, bestselling cookbook author and one half of The Hairy Bikers, Dave Myers, is to host the Cumbria Food Awards.
Dave, originally from Barrow-in-Furness, will be back in his home county for the awards, which take place at Kendal College on March 3, 2022.
The TV star, who rose to fame with his on-screen partner Si King, said he and his wife, Lili, couldn’t wait to be back in Cumbria.
He said: “I’m delighted and honoured to be hosting the Cumbria Food Awards. I’m very proud of Cumbria and especially it’s place in the food world.”
Dave said that chefs such as Simon Rogan, whose two Michelin-starred restaurant L’Enclume in Cartmel is The Good Food Guide’s number one restaurant in the UK, and businesses including Tebay-based Cumbrian meat supplier Lake District Farmers put the county in a different league.
It was a topic that he and Si King, who is from the North East, return to regularly, he said.
“I often have this conversation with Si about Cumbria versus Northumberland. Cumbria does sell itself on the world food stage with people like Simon Rogan and produce that’s second to none from Lake District Farmers, who are selling meat to the majority of Michelin-starred restaurants.”
Dave and Si were most recently in Cumbria as part of their Hairy Bikers Go North BBC Two series, which saw them visit Gilpin Hotel and Lake House near Windermere and the Growing Well mental health charity at Low Sizergh, near Kendal.
Dave and Si have been presenting their Hairy Bikers programmes for more than 20 years, filming all over the UK and internationally.
Their TV series have been watched by millions of people and their books regularly top the bestseller lists.
Cumbria Food Awards, in association with Caterite, are a new and independent awards, designed to celebrate excellence in the county’s hospitality industry.
Sponsors and supporters include Kendal College, Booths, Cumbria Crack and Barrnon Media, Patron Simon Rogan, Cranstons, Hawkshead Relish Company, H&H Group, Lakeland Inns, More? The Artisan Bakery and Lakes Cottages.
