Cumbrian food producers have been named among the best in the country in prestigious national awards.
The Great British Food Awards, launched in 2014, celebrates the country’s finest artisanal produce and the hard-working people behind the scenes.
Judges this year included food writer and restaurant critic William Sitwell, chefs Sally Abe, Paul Askew, Michel Roux Jr Adam Handling and Raymond Blanc, and restaurateur Shelina Permaloo.
Food producers were awarded platinum, gold, silver and bronze awards and Hawkshead Relish was named the overall regional winner for the North of England.
Cumbrian winners
Gold
- Honey – Nook Farm Honey, Newcastleton
- Coffee – Pennington’s Lakeland blend
Silver
- Vinegars, oils and dressings – Eden Yard, Penrith, silver
- Flavour added cheese – Appleby Creamery’s Black Dub Blue, Smoked Hootenanny and Eden Smokie
- Soft cheese – Appleby Creamery’s Eden VaAlsop and Wallkerlley Brie
- Home baking – Carr’s carrot cake mix, lemon cake mix
- Dairy – Winter Tarn’s Farmhouse Salted Butter
- Cooking sauces – Hawkshead Relish lemon and garlic slow cooker sauce
Bronze
- Vodka – Kin Toffee and Lemon vodka spirit drink
- Tea – Pennington’s English Breakfast
- Biscuits – Grasmere Gingerbread
- Home baking – Carr’s 00 pizza and pasta flour and six seed bread mix
- Jam – Hawkshead Relish raspberry and vanilla jam
- Cooking sauces – Hawkshead Relish Bloody Mary slow cooker sauce
Harry Jackson, of Winter Tarn, said: “Receiving a silver award shows that we’re creating an excellent product that appeals to a broad audience and stands out on the national stage. Recognition like this is a real achievement for the team and recognises all the hard work they put into the business day in day out.’’
Maria Whitehead MBE, co-owner of Hawkshead Relish. said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have collected these four prestigious awards, not only for the products, but for our whole team creating our new slow cooker sauce range.
“We are also incredibly proud to have been selected as the North of England regional winner against so many other amazing top producers making this a truly exceptional achievement.”
