The winners of Cumbria’s only dedicated food and drink awards are to be announced at a gala event this week.
The second independent Cumbria Food Awards dinner and presentation, in association with Caterite, is due to be held at Kendal College on Thursday evening in front of 156 guests. The event will be hosted by Irini Tzortzoglou, the winner of the 2019 BBC MasterChef competition.
The winners will be recognised for their achievements and excellence over the last 12 months. The 13 category awards to be announced include Chef of the Year, Restaurant of the Year, Casual Dining Venue of the Year, Drinks Producer of the Year and Pub, Bar or Taproom of the Year.
A number of special awards will also be presented, including the top award for Outstanding Contribution.
More than 1,400 nominations from members of the public and entries from businesses were received. A panel of independent judges drew up a shortlist before visiting the finalists and deciding on their winners.
Several categories, including Café, Food Producer, New Business and Pop-Up or Street Food Trader, received a large number of entries and the judges had a particularly hard task to select the trophy winners.
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.
Hotel Restaurant of the Year will be decided between Allium at Askham Hall, Rothay Manor at Ambleside and The Forest Side at Grasmere.
During the 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.
Cumbrian wholesaler Caterite is providing the ingredients for dinner, with reception and table drinks supplied by its wine business, Grapevine Wine Services.
The reception is sponsored by Eden District Council, the event’s associate partner. Northern grocer Booths is providing the canapé ingredients.
The free-to-enter awards are supported by media partner Cumbria Crack, Patron Simon Rogan and category sponsors.
The latest category sponsor to come on board is Bury-based Taste Hospitality Recruitment. Established by Caroline Wright in 2008, the four-strong team works with businesses from the Channel Islands to Scotland, with many high end clients.
The team’s expertise is much needed currently because of the ongoing shortage of hospitality staff. Caroline works with many businesses which provide an excellent working environment.
She said: “Those clients who treat their staff well will keep hold of them. It’s about treating people with as much respect as you possibly can and then you’re going to get the loyalty back.”
Taste Hospitality Recruitment, which has numerous Cumbrian clients, is to sponsor the popular category for Pop-Up or Street Food Seller of the Year.
The agency has been named Most Trusted UK Hospitality Agency and Best Independent Hospitality Agency in the UK. Caroline said they wanted to support the Cumbria Food Awards because the event is a good fit for their personal service ethos.
She added: “It’s about building relationships and understanding our clients more.”
Launched in 2022, the Cumbria Food Awards are organised by designer Lindsay Molloy and journalist Michaela Robinson-Tate.
Cumbria Food Awards 2023 finalists
Specialist Food Retailer of the year (Sponsored by Hawkshead Relish)
Cranstons Cumbrian Food Hall, Penrith
Roast Mutton, Kendal
Tebay Services, Tebay
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
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
Pop-Up/Street Food Seller of the Year (Sponsored by Taste Hospitality Recruitment)
Sweet Treats, Kendal
Thai Kitchen in Lakeland, Kendal
Urban Wood Fire, Irthington
New Business of the Year (Sponsored by Thomson Hayton Winkley)
Northern Pasta, Kendal
Rebel Gelato, Kendal
Temperly Chocolates, Ambleside
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
Special Award
The Inspiring Cumbria Award (sponsored by Eden District Council)
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
Dining Pub of the Year (Sponsored by Lamont Pridmore)
Heft, High Newton
The Black Bull, Sedbergh
The Dog & Gun Inn, Skelton
Special Award
Rising Star (sponsored by Kendal College)
Hotel Restaurant of the Year (sponsored by Shortridge)
Allium at Askham Hall
The Forest Side, Grasmere
Rothay Manor, Ambleside
Restaurant of the Year (Sponsored by More? The Artisan Bakery)
1863, Pooley Bridge
L’Enclume, Cartmel
Rogan & Co, Cartmel
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