Food Reader Awards 2019 winners revealed

Dave Jenkins (Rock Salt Café), Lympstone Manor (Exmouth) and Chococo (Exeter) were among the winners announced at this year’s Food Reader Awards, during a celebratory feast at The Greenbank Hotel. The awards ceremony celebrated the best independent food and drink across the South West, with over 25,000 individual votes cast by readers of food magazine and www.food-mag.co.uk.

The coastal feast, on Monday January 28, was hosted by one of Salt Media’s founding directors, Jo Rees, along with Nick Hodges, executive chef at The Greenbank and sister hotel, The Alverton in Truro. 

food magazine editor Jo Rees said: “The South West food and drink industry showcases some of the best produce in the UK, so it’s fantastic to see so many chefs, restaurants, producers and foodie ho­tels being given a massive ‘well done’ by our readers”.

The team at The Greenbank treated guests to a sumptuous supper of paupiette of megrim sole, crab rosti and samphire shrimp, followed by Nanteague Farm seared beef fillet and glazed short rib. The meal was accompanied by beers from Sharp’s Brewery, and a wine flight courtesy of Enotria & Coe. Petis fours were served with The Wrecking Coast Distillery’s Honey Sloe Gin.

The awards were launched by Salt Media eight years ago with the aim of celebrating top restaurants, cafes, pubs, chefs, producers, retailers, hotels and cookery schools across the South West.