Hampshire has a food scene which is more vibrant than many others across the UK. This category celebrates the individual who has made the most impact on the food community.
Sponsored by Shorefield Holidays
Winner: Andy Mackenzie
What the judges said: “The recipient of this award has been tantalising taste buds in the county for almost 30 years. Taking what he thought was a temporary job in a popular Hampshire hotel to fund a move to France, after moving to the county from London; it was here that our food hero discovered a passion for using local ingredients to create inspiring dishes.
“Moving in to an Executive Chef position, and with all thoughts of France behind him, our food hero spent time going out and meeting local food producers and promoting them through demonstrations and educational talks. At a time when his peers were chasing Michelin stars. Our hero was promoting the importance of locally produced dishes, helping to support Hampshire’s food industry.
“Some may know him as ‘Mr Hampshire’, our hero has continued to work tirelessly to support our food network and has recently set up a chefs academy with the intention of producing a fantastic selection of chef de partie, all with his passion for sourcing locally. This legacy will no doubt leave a lasting impression on our county as these young chefs move in to their next roles, and will enable our food industry to remain buoyant as local ingredients are continued to be served to our residents.
“All in all a true Hampshire gent with an amazing passion for local food and the expertise to ensure this is passed down from generation to generation.
