Outstanding Cumbrian restaurateurs, café owners, chefs, producers and retailers will be recognised at a new county-wide awards event.
Some of the best known names from the hospitality industry are in contention for trophies at the Cumbria Food Awards, which will be presented at a celebratory gala evening at Kendal College tomorrow.
Dave Myers, the television presenter and one half of The Hairy Bikers, will be back in his home county to host the event.
Dave, who is from Barrow-in-Furness said: “I am really looking forward to coming home to help celebrate the Cumbria Food Awards. It’s going to be a wonderful event and never in the history of our great county have we been better placed to enjoy and celebrate our standing nationally in the food world.
“We have more Michelin stars than you can shake a stick at, and now the only three Michelin-starred restaurant outside of London and Berkshire.
“We have some of the best chefs and producers in the land and on this night we can truly celebrate and give ourselves a well-earned pat on the back. It’s going to be brilliant.”
Guests at the awards will include the cream of the county’s food and drink businesses including the event’s Patron, chef Simon Rogan who has recently been recognised with three Michelin stars for his flagship restaurant, L’Enclume in Cartmel.
The independent and free-to-enter awards were launched last summer with the aim of recognising and celebrating excellence in the county’s food and drink sector and to give the industry a reason to celebrate after such a challenging period.
Nearly 500 nominations and business entries were received, which have been whittled down to 39 finalists across 13 categories by a panel of independent judges.
The winners of the 13 awards, including Restaurant of the Year, Chef of the Year, Innovation of the Year and Producer of the Year, will be announced on the night, along with a number of special awards.
The evening will conclude with the award of Outstanding Contribution, to be presented by headline sponsor Caterite.
Before the awards are announced, 50 students from Kendal College, one of the country’s leading providers of hospitality training, will cook a three-course dinner for 156 finalists, sponsors and special guests.
Finalists
Drinks Producer of the Year
Eva’s Organics, Low Luckens
Lakes Brew Co, Kendal
Shed 1 Gin, Ulverston
Food Producer of the Year
Lovingly Artisan, Kendal
Stonehouse Smokery, Moorhouse, Carlisle Winter Tarn Dairy, Morland near Penrith
Specialist Food Retailer of the Year
Cranstons Cumbrian Food Hall
Low Sizergh Barn, Kendal
Tebay Services
Street Food Seller of the Year
Food From the Fells, Kendal
Urban Wood Fire, Irthington
Yard 46, Kendal
Pub, Bar or Taproom of the Year
Factory Tap, Kendal
Fell Bar, Penrith
The New Union, Kendal
Café of the Year
Harry’s at Yew Tree Barn, Low Newton
More? The Artisan Bakery, Staveley
The Chopping Block, Penrith
Casual Dining Venue of the Year
Bakehouse Born & Bread, Greenodd near Ulverston
The Old Bank, Carlisle
The Yan at Broadrayne, Grasmere
Newcomer of the Year
Bassenthwaite Lake Station, Bassenthwaite Heft, High Newton
Roast Mutton, Kendal
Innovation of the Year
Eden Yard Rapeseed Oil, Plumpton
Home by Simon Rogan
Sweet Treats by Martin Frickel
Dining Pub of the Year
Heft, High Newton
The Black Swan, Ravenstonedale
The Dog & Gun, Skelton
Hotel Restaurant of the Year
Henrock, Windermere
Rothay Manor, Ambleside
The Forest Side, Grasmere
Chef of the Year
Tom Barnes, Executive Chef, Simon Rogan Restaurants in the North West
Paul Leonard, The Forest Side
Daniel McGeorge, Rothay Manor, Ambleside
Restaurant of the Year
The Cottage in the Wood, Keswick
L’Enclume, Cartmel
Lounge on the Green, Houghton, Carlisle
