Northamptonshire Food & Drink Awards 2017/18

Following on from the excitement of the Duchy Organic competition earlier this year, I was invited to join a panel of three other judges for the final round of two categories in the Carlsberg UK Northamptonshire Food & Drink Awards by the organisers, the Mallows Company. Amongst my fellow judges were William Sitwell, editor of Waitrose Food and Tom Stainer, editor of CAMRA's What's Brewing and BEER magazine so I was in very knowledgeable company.  The two categories we were asked consider were the New Local Drink of the Year and Artisan Local Drink of Year and yes reader, our sorry task was to sample over ten different drinks to decide the winners. Comfortably seated around a large table in the sponsor's (Carlsberg UK) headquarters in Northampton we worked our way through the list of finalists, making notes and discussing points before our choices were made. My lips are, of course, sealed, winners will be announced at the Awards Dinner taking place at Northampton’s Royal & Derngate on 15th November 2017.

The Northamptonshire Food & Drink Awards showcase the wealth and variety of the quality food and drink produced in the county. Northamptonshire is sometimes viewed as the forgotten county and it may surprise you to know that the awards are now in their ninth year and attract some serious names from the world of food. If you are a 'foodie' or are in any way interested in sampling some of the best I suggest you head up this way sharpish. As well as being able to take in a fabulous lunch or dinner, stock up on locally made delicacies, you'll also have the pleasure of doing so in some of the prettiest (and least crowded) countryside that England has to offer (and you may also go home with a pair of exquisite hand made shoes).