The finalists for the 2023 Cumbria Food Awards have been named.
The 39 chefs, restaurants, pubs, hotels, cafés, producers and shops were selected for their outstanding achievements and excellence over the last 12 months.
The judges for the independent awards, held in association with Caterite, were given a hard task after considering more than 1,400 nominations from members of the public and entries from individual businesses.
The winners will be announced at the Cumbria Food Awards 2023 final, to be held at Kendal College on Thursday March 16 and hosted by Irini Tzortzoglou, the winner of the 2019 BBC MasterChef competition.
Irini, who lives at Cartmel and is a cookbook author, speaker and olive oil sommelier, will announce the winners of 13 categories in front of more than 150 finalists, sponsors and special guests from throughout the county’s hospitality industry.
A number of the categories were particularly hard fought with the judges facing difficult and close decisions to select the finalists.
Competition for Café of the Year was fierce and there were entries from throughout the county. The final three chosen were Homeground in Windermere; Industry Kitchen in Barrow-in-Furness and Method in Kendal
Innovation proved to be alive and well in the county with the New Business of the Year category attracting a large number of entries. The judges selected Northern Pasta and Rebel Gelato, both in Kendal and Ambleside’s Temperly Chocolates as their finalists.
The Food Producer and Drinks Producer categories both resulted in a diverse selection of finalists. The Food Producer of the Year shortlist was made up of Cumbrian Baker in Cockermouth; Eden Valley Meat Company at Plumpton and Torpenhow Cheese Company, near Wigton.
Meanwhile, beer, coffee and spirits are in contention for Drinks Producer of the Year with Kendal’s Lakes Brew Co, Red Bank Coffee Roasters in Kendal and Ulverston’s Shed 1 Gin making the shortlist.
The award-winning chef, Simon Rogan, will have divided loyalties when his two Cartmel restaurants, the three Michelin-starred L’Enclume and its sister restaurant, the Michelin-starred Rogan and Co, compete for Restaurant of the Year. The third finalist’s spot went to 1863 in Pooley Bridge.
During the awards evening, students from Kendal College’s highly regarded hospitality department will prepare, cook and serve canapés for a reception, followed by a two-course meal. The reception will be sponsored by Eden District Council, the event’s associate partner.
The free-to-enter awards are supported by media partner Cumbria Crack, Booths, Patron Simon Rogan and category sponsors.
Launched in 2022, the Cumbria Food Awards are organised by designer Lindsay Molloy and journalist Michaela Robinson-Tate.
Cumbria Food Awards 2023 finalists
Café of the Year (sponsored by Cumbria Crack)
- Homeground, Windermere
- Industry Kitchen, Barrow-in-Furness
- Method, Kendal
Casual Dining Venue of the Year (sponsored by Grapevine Wine Services)
- Comida, Kendal
- Fellpack, Keswick
- The Yan at Broadrayne, Grasmere
Chef of the Year (sponsored by Spinning Jennies)
- Paul Burgalières of L’Enclume, Cartmel
- Paul Leonard, of The Forest Side, Grasmere
- Nina Matsunaga, of The Black Bull, Sedbergh
Dining Pub of the Year (Sponsored by Lamont Pridmore)
- Heft, High Newton
- The Black Bull, Sedbergh
- The Dog & Gun Inn, Skelton
Drinks Producer of the Year (sponsored by Cranstons)
- Lakes Brew Co, Kendal
- Red Bank Coffee Roasters, Kendal
- Shed 1 Gin, Ulverston
Food Producer of the Year (sponsored by H&H Group)
- Cumbrian Baker, Cockermouth
- Eden Valley Meat Company, Plumpton
- Torpenhow Cheese Company, near Wigton
Hotel Restaurant of the Year (sponsored by Shortridge)
- Allium at Askham Hall
- The Forest Side, Grasmere
- Rothay Manor, Ambleside
New Business of the Year (Sponsored by Thomson Hayton Winkley)
- Northern Pasta, Kendal
- Rebel Gelato, Kendal
- Temperly Chocolates, Ambleside
Pop-Up/Street Food Seller of the Year (Sponsored by L+M Events)
- Sweet Treats, Kendal
- Thai Kitchen in Lakeland, Kendal
- Urban Wood Fire, Irthington
Pub, Bar or Taproom of the Year (Sponsored by The Factory Tap)
- The Blind Bus Driver, Kendal
- The Dalesman Country Inn, Sedbergh
- The Royal Barn, Kirkby Lonsdale
Restaurant of the Year (Sponsored by More? The Artisan Bakery)
- 1863, Pooley Bridge
- L’Enclume, Cartmel
- Rogan & Co, Cartmel
Specialist Food Retailer of the year (Sponsored by Hawkshead Relish)
- Cranstons Cumbrian Food Hall, Penrith
- Roast Mutton, Kendal
- Tebay Services, Tebay
Sustainable/Ethical Business of the Year (Sponsored by Eco-I North West)
- A Day’s Walk, Cark-in-Cartmel and Ambleside
- Our Farm, Cartmel
- The Yan at Broadrayne, Grasmere
