Cornwall Life Food & Drink Awards

Cornwall Life’s first Food & Drink Awards

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Is your local farmers’ market worth shouting about? Do you know a restaurant that deserves accolades? Perhaps you want to sing the praises of a local food producer. Now’s your chance at the first ever Cornwall Life Food & Drink Awards that we have launhed in this June issue ur Awards are decided by reader vote – make yours count by returning the nomination form enclosed, or you can vote online: www.cornwalllifeawards.co.uk

The Cornwall Life Food & Drink Awards is an exciting new event launched by Cornwall Life, the Cornwall County Magazine.

The awards are designed to give valuable recognition to local producers, growers, suppliers and hospitality venues across the region. However, the awards wouldn’t work without your help and support because all the finalists and winners are chosen from nominations sent in by you, our readers.

So, if you’ve visited a Cornish restaurant or pub and enjoyed a particularly good meal, which used local ingredients, or you have been impressed by the produce and service at a local farmers’ market or independent food shop, then let us know. You will find a complete list of all the categories here. You don’t have to make a nomination for every category – just those where you have a view.

1 Best Restaurant of the Year sponsored by Knight Frank

This category includes high street or hotel restaurants. Judge it on use of local produce, quality of the food and value for money. Was the menu interesting? Could any accommodation be made for particular dietary requirements? Take into account speed and friendliness of service, the knowledge of the staff and the overall atmosphere.

2 Best Entrepreneur/Innovative Product sponsored by Foot Anstey

Have you come across a locally produced food product or kitchen item that you’ve never seen before but been so impressed by its quality that you’ve ordered more? In this category we’re looking for people who have seen a need in the market and gone out and filled it with style.

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3 Best Independent Food Shop of the Year sponsored by Taste of the West

This section encompasses any shop that specialises in local produce – farm shops, delicatessens, greengrocers, bakers or fishmongers. Does it offer value for money? Is the service friendly and are the staff knowledgeable? Is there a good range of fresh, appetising and seasonal food?

4 Best Organic Product/Trader sponsored by Winter Rule

Is an organic product you have sampled much better than its non-organic equivalent? Judge it on taste, quality and value for money. Focus both on traders who specialise in organic produce and on restaurants and catering businesses that value and use organic ingredients.

5 Best Farmers’ Market

sponsored by Cornish Mutual

Only official farmers’ markets can be entered, with producers from a 30-mile radius selling their own produce. Look out for the overall presentation, a good choice of stalls and a mixture of arts and crafts with cafés, entertainment and cookery demonstrations.

6 Best Food Producer

sponsored by Tesco

This is aimed at the person who rears the cattle, grows the vegetables or produces the pickles. Look at the quality and whether ingredients lists are included and easy to read. How has the produce been packaged and promoted?

7 Best Chef of the Year

sponsored by The Eden Project

Does the chef use local and seasonal produce and change the menu to reflect this? Every chef wants to tantalise your taste buds, so tell us if his or her dishes excited you and had you going back for more.

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8 Best Drinks Producer sponsored by Lanhydrock Hotel & Golf Club

Here we’re homing in on vineyards, orchards and breweries. Do they use fresh, natural ingredients? Are their products free of artificial preservatives, flavourings and colourings? And is the taste exceptional?

9 Best Country Pub of the Year

Ambience is all-important here. Check out pubs with clean, cosy lounges with open fireplaces and personable staff. Are local varieties of beer and other drinks available? Are local suppliers supported?

Is there a traditional atmosphere with pub games and quizzes?

10 Best Butcher/Meat Producer

Is there a good range of different meats and cuts? Is game offered when in season? What are their principles on traceability and knowledge of hanging and cooking the meats?

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CORNWALL LIFE FOOD AND DRINK AWARDS

PRESENTATON EVENING

…at The Eden Project on Thursday 2 October 2008 from 7pm

Come and see if your nomination walks away with an award...

Come along to this exciting new event and take part in the evening. Join us for a glass or two of local bubbly in the amazing surroundings of the Mediterranean biome at The Eden Project.

Enjoy a delicious three-course meal made with the finest Cornish ingredients, with a selection of wines from local vineyards. Then join in the excitement as we reveal the winners of our 2008 Cornwall Life Food & Drink Awards.

Dress code: Smart/casual. Tickets cost £45 per person. Cost of ticket non-refundable. Numbers are limited, so for further information and to secure your place, please call Karen Morley (01803 860750 / Karen.Morley@archant.co.uk

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