Nominations open for local food and drink heroes

Residents of the Reepham district can now nominate local food, drinks and hospitality businesses for the Norfolk Hero Food and Drink Awards 2015.
 

Left to right: Tim Elwes of the Saracen’s Head, Wolterton; Anna Duttson of the Norfolk Mead Hotel, Coltishall; Aylsham Show president Tony Bambridge; Nicola Colchester of Colchester Inns; and Paul Graves of butchers H V Graves of Briston

 
Organised by the Aylsham Agricultural Show Association, the awards recognise local pubs, shops and suppliers that produce and serve outstanding food or drinks with passion and enthusiasm.
 
People can vote online until 15 May at www.theaylshamshow.co.uk/food-hero-awards or fill in any of the leaflets available at local businesses, cafés, pubs and shops across the county.
 
The launch of the awards took place on 10 February at the National Trust’s Blickling Estate near Aylsham. The event celebrated the winners of 2014, who served their specialities and shared their experiences since winning the awards.
 
Norfolk Hero Food and Drink Awards Committee chairman Jacinth Rogers said: “It’s wonderful to launch another year for the awards and discover many new and established producers and suppliers of great local food and drinks from our beautiful county. We’re so lucky here to have such quality on our doorstep and we would like to see hundreds of nominations from across the whole of Norfolk.”
 
Saracen’s Head’s owner Tim Elwes, who won the highest accolade last year, said: “Winning the Championship has brought in different people and I hope our suppliers benefit from it too. For example, Gareth and Jo Daniels supply lamb to us and I tell our customers about it and explain that they can also buy it themselves from the local market.
 
“Everyone is working together and we showcase our producers. And we’re talking more often to people about local food and drinks since the award and they’re definitely more interested in local produce now. So we spread the word.”
 
Category winners will be announced in the summer and the overall Championship and Individual Hero awards will be presented at the 2015 Aylsham Show on Bank Holiday Monday 31 August at Blickling Park, Aylsham.
 
The five award categories are:

  • Best Specialist Food or Drink Producer, sponsored by Gressingham Foods.
  • Best Use of Norfolk Produce on the Menu, sponsored by PIC UK.
  • Best Food or Drink Supplier, sponsored by Dewing Grain.
  • Best New Food or Drink Venture, sponsored by For Farmers.
  • Aylsham Show Individual Food or Drink Hero (the President’s prize).

 
The Aylsham Agricultural Show Association awarded the Norfolk Hero Food and Drink Championship 2014 to the Saracen’s Head and the President’s Individual Hero Award was given to Nicola and Matthew Colchester of Colchester Inns.
 
Category winners 2014

  • The Saracen’s Head, Wolterton, won Best Use of Norfolk Produce on the Menu.
  • Winbirri Vineyards, Surlingham, was the county’s Best Specialist Food or Drink Producer.
  • H V Graves in Briston, a butcher, bakery and local shop, was awarded Best Food or Drink Supplier Promoting Local Produce.
  • The Best New Food or Drink Venture started in 2013/14 was the Norfolk Mead Hotel in Coltishall.

 
The Norfolk Hero Food and Drink Awards are also on Facebook: www.facebook.com/norfolkherofoodanddrinkawards

Related stories: