Saluting all the winners and finalists in the Eat Suffolk Food & Drink Awards 2019 | Words: Jayne Lindill - Photos: Sarah Lucy Brown
Suffolk is celebrating the outstanding achievements of its food and drink sector following the Eat Suffolk Food and Drink Awards 2019 at Milsoms Kesgrave Hall.
Businesses and individuals were recognised in 13 award categories, receiving their trophies in front of an audience of more than 250 people from the county's food and drink community which included all the finalists, sponsors and supporters.
Organised by Suffolk Magazine and the East Anglian Daily Times, and sponsored by the East of England Co-op, the awards attracted record nominations, making the judges' task of selecting the finalists and winners even tougher than previous years.
As ever, there were new names alongside familiar favourites, all reflecting the innovation and diversity that characterises Suffolk's food and drink sector. This year was also noteworthy for a new Beer Quality award, sponsored by Woodforde's, and the return of the Young Chef of the Year award, sponsored by Bidfood.
Thanks go to our headline sponsor, East of England Co-op, a tireless champion of local food and drink, without whom the awards wouldn't be possible, and our category sponsors - Bidfood, Woodforde's Brewery, Allstaff Employment, Ashtons Legal, Castlemeadow Care, Fisher and Woods, G + G Gallo Enterprises, Greshams Ipswich, Marketplace amp, and MHA Larking Gowen.
We're lucky to attract sponsors who have a keen interest in the food and drink industry, and who bring their own experience and knowledge to the judging process.
Thanks also to Kesgrave Hall, for hosting the awards and for preparing a delicious three-course dinner, to East of England Co-op for providing wine and prosecco, to Woodfordes for providing beer, to drinks reception sponsor Larking Gowen, car sponsor Turners and taxi sponsor Claydon Executive Travel.
We're enormously grateful to Mike Mulvihill at West Suffolk College for allowing us to use his training kitchens for the Chef of the Year and Young Chef of the Year competitions.
You'll be able to see both winners in action at the Aldeburgh Food and Drink Festival in September, thanks to Jess Brown, festival organiser, who has kindly offered each of them a place on the cookery demonstration stage on both days of the event at Snape Maltings.
The Young Chef of the Year will also experience a five-day stage (internship) at Coworth Park's Michelin-star restaurant, organised by the award judges.
The judges
We thank all our expert judges who give generously of their time and effort in ensuring the awards are fair and transparent - Cathy Frost, Clare Fairs, David Wright, Emma Crowhurst, Galton Blackiston, Jessica Noye, Julie West, Lee Bye, Linda Duffin, Mike Beech, Mike Mulvihill, Mike Warner, Nick Claxton-Webb, Nigel Chapman, Paddy Bishopp, Ruth Bolton, Sandy Ruddock, Terry Hunt, and Tessa Allingham. All were accompanied by our sponsor judges.
All the winners & finalists
Suffolk Food and Drink Hero
Sponsored by East of England Co-op
Winner: Jonny and Dulcie Crickmore, Fen Farm Dairy
Pub of the year
Sponsored by G + G Gallo Enterprises
Winner: The Grundisburgh Dog
Finalists: The Kings Arms Haughley, The Sorrel Horse Shottisham, The Three Ways Cowlinge
Best Newcomer
Sponsored by MHA Larking Gowen
Winner: JOJO's Kitchen & Bar
Finalists: The Boot, Freston, Fynn Valley Café Terrace, Heart of Suffolk Distillery
Pride of Suffolk
Sponsored by Marketplace amp
Winner: Powters
Finalists: P A Mobbs and Sons, The Cake Shop Bakery, Heart of Suffolk Distillery
Field to Fork
Sponsored by Ashtons Legal
Winner: P A Mobbs and Sons
Finalists: Humdinger Produce, Heath Farm Suffolk, Hollow Trees Farm
Best Coffee/Tea Shop
Sponsored by Castlemeadow Care
Winner: Hullabaloo
Finalists: The Long Melford Tearoom, Painters Café, Applaud Coffee
Family Dining Award
Sponsored by Greshams Ipswich
Winner: The Cherry Tree
Finalists: Cabbages & Kings, The Ship at Dunwich, The Butt & Oyster
Outstanding Customer Service
Sponsored by Allstaff Employment
Winner: The Turks Head
Finalists: Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa, The Sail Loft, The Butt & Oyster
Beer Quality Award
Sponsored by Woodforde's Brewery
Winner: The Woolpack, Bury St Edmunds
Finalists: The Maybush Inn, The Fludyers Hotel, The Butt & Oyster
Young Chef of the Year
Sponsored by Bidfood
Winner: Moraine Pepper, The Northgate
Finalists: Justin Skinner -Tuddenham Mill, Swann Auffray - The Great House, Abigail De-Ats - Tuddenham Mill
Chef of the Year
Sponsored by Fisher and Woods
Winner: Luke Bailey, The Salthouse Harbour Hotel
Finalists: Dave Wall - The Unruly Pig, Grant Newland - The Kings Arms Haughley, Jon Jones - Hollow Trees Farm
Best Independent Food and Drink Retailer
Sponsored by Suffolk Magazine
Winner: Slate
Finalists: Smashing Wines, Hopsters, Hollow Trees Farm Shop
Restaurant of the Year
Sponsored by Bidfood
Winner: Maison Bleue
Finalists: Tuddenham Mill, The George Cavendish, The Unruly Pig