Food & Drink Devon announces 2014 shortlist

With the esteemed Food & Drink Devon awards ceremony just a month away, the shortlist of the county’s most respected and influential artisan food and drink producers has just been announced.

Judges have tasted 134 of the finest meats, sweets and liquid treats, and checked out dozens of farm shops, breweries, restaurants and delis across Devon to select the pick of the crop. James Strawbridge will announce the winners at a foodie feast at Exeter Golf and Country Club on Monday 6th October, where the industry’s top players celebrate the best of Devon’s vibrant food, drink and hospitality scene. All the ingredients for an exciting night of celebration!

Producers on the Taste of Devon Product shortlist include a huge variety of sweet and savoury delights from small businesses including Partridge Farm Meats in Tiverton, Exmoor Heat and Eat Kitchen, Hallwood Farm Shop in Okehampton, Yonder Berries on Dartmoor, Stevie B’s Bakery in Crediton and Hi T’s Fudge in Tavistock. From the drinks cabinet, tastings were judged from Dartmoor Brewery, Devon Distillery near Totnes, Hunters Brewery in the Teign valley, Lyme Bay Winery and Buckfastleigh’s, Luscombe Drinks.

Michael Smith, chairman of Food & Drink Devon since 2008, is proud to champion Devon’s producers. “Devon is a hub of wonderful food and drink producers and we want to highlight the benefits associated with sourcing produce locally and responsibly,” says Michael. “Supporting our farmers, fishermen, growers, chefs and artisans creates a vital boost to our whole economy and helps to sustain Devon’s precious landscape, from the rolling countryside to our rivers and oceans.”

From the 30 producers on the shortlist this year, platinum awards will be given to any delicacy that received a flawless 100% score. Gold awards go to samples which achieved 90-99%, and those which scored 85-89% will win silver awards. “Customers across the region and beyond know and trust our silver, gold and platinum stamps of approval as a mark of fantastic flavour and the highest quality,” explains Michael, “so look out for the ‘Love the Flavour’ logo and you’ll be sure to discover the best of Devon’s produce.”

Three of the 38 producers who entered are shortlisted for the best packaging category. These include Dappa, Devon Distillery’s new stylish spirit made by Cosmo Caddy, plus two businesses which successfully export their wares overseas: Bell & Loxton, for their smart, silver bottles of cold-pressed rape seed oil, and well-known Plymouth-based brand Burts Potato Chips.

Food & Drink Devon works tirelessly to increase the county’s profile, both nationally and internationally. Michael says: “Producers from Devon offer a hugely varied and exciting range of food and drink. This combined with the commitment of many of the region’s hospitality and retail businesses to serve and sell this wonderful produce, is putting Devon more firmly on both the UK and the global food map.”

Six categories cover every aspect of eating out, from fine-dining to best takeaway and all manner of cuisines. Finalists in the best restaurant category are The Millbrook Inn, South Pool, Rodean Restaurant in Kenton and The Bedford Hotel in Tavistock. Gidleigh Park in Chagford is up against Prince Hall Hotel near Two Bridges and Yeoldon House Hotel in Bideford. Both north and south coasts are represented in the best café category, with Branscombe’s The Sea Shanty Café going head to head with Britannia @ The Beach at Beesands.

When it comes to gourmet shopping, Devon’s shopping basket is always full to the brim and in the retail category three contrasting establishments have been shortlisted, who are all dedicated to providing their conscientious customers with Devon provenance. Judges will choose between Ashburton Delicatessen, The Food Shop (part of The Shops at Dartington) and Shaldon’s local butcher G. T. Orsman. Vying for top cut in the online retailer category, The Well Hung Meat Company and Eversfield Organic are both on the shortlist.

The black tie awards ceremony will be held on Monday 6th October 2014 at Exeter Golf and Country Club from 6.45pm. Following a drinks reception and the chance to mingle with the finalists, a delicious three-course meal created from seasonal food produced by Food & Drink Devon members will be served. The prestigious awards will be presented by chef, TV presenter and owner of the Posh Pasty Co, James Strawbridge.

Award ceremony tickets cost £45 per person and include a drinks reception, three-course meal and half a bottle of wine. Tickets are on sale until 5pm on Friday 26th September, subject to availability. To book, please contact Emily Blades on 07863 255030 or awards@lovetheflavour.co.uk. For more information, please visit www.lovetheflavour.co.uk and follow @lovetheflavour on Twitter.