Meet the finalists up for this years Food and Drink Awards

Read on to find out who is up for what at this years Hampshire Life Food and Drink Awards

Food Producer of the Year

Hampshire Chutney

“Overwhelmed is the first word that pops into my head and I can’t believe I have been shortlisted. Thank you to all of those wonderful people who voted and who love my products. I love what I do and will keep making delicious chutneys, sauces and relishes for everyone to enjoy for years to come.” Shelley Wilkinson

Naked Jam

“Being nominated for this award has validated that my customers value my product as much as I love creating it. It has given me the confidence to move onto the next stage with Naked Jam.” Jennifer Williams

New Forest Ice Cream

“Hampshire is famed for its fabulous food produce so it is an especially great honour for our family business to be nominated for this prestigious award. We have been working hard for 30 years to bring the taste of Hampshire to our customers and now you can find our New Forest logo in most English counties. This nomination will raise our profile further and help to build a national awareness of our local brand.” Niki Jenman

Best Farm Shop

Newlyns Farm Shop

“We feel honored to be part of Hampshire Life’s Food and Drink Oscars. Our team at Newlyns work tirelessly to create great food and offer great customer service as we strive to be the best in our field, therefore being a finalist is recognition of our hard work.” Abby Janaway

Wellington Farm Shop

"I am delighted that the WFS has been nominated for the second year running - it makes me very proud that all our teams efforts in producing great tasting, award winning foods, whilst offering a truly personal level of service is recognized by our customers. Personally I am nearing 4 years service as Manager and to be crowned Best Farm Shop in Hampshire 2012 would be a dream come true and confirm to me that all my efforts have been well worthwhile in improving our shop." Mike Murphy

Bowtell Farm Shop

“We’re so happy to be nominated for this year’s Food and Drink Awards. Well done to all our team here and this is also an opportunity to recognise all the local producers and suppliers we work alongside.” Toby Bowtell

Best Hampshire Roast

The Bakers Arms

“All the team, particularly Richard in the kitchen put a lot of very hard work into getting ready for Sunday lunch, one of our nation’s favourite meals, so to be shortlisted as Hampshire’s best is a great accolade.” Adam Cordery

The Bear and Ragged Staff

“We are delighted to be in the award finals again. A huge thank you to all our customers for their continual support, and of course, for their nominations. I am very proud of all the team at The Bear and Ragged Staff.” Jonathan Salmon

The Three Tuns

“We’re over the moon to be nominated. Our values are ‘fresh, delicious, local’ and with the help of some great suppliers, such as New Forest Pig & poultry (Wellow), Blackmoor Estate Game (Alresford) and Secrett’s Farm vegetables we believe our Sunday roasts are becoming truly legendary.” Eleanor Dodd

Drinks Producer of the Year

Andwell Brewing Company

“It’s great that out hard work and the quality of our products has been recognised in our nomination for Drinks Producer of the Year. Hampshire has some excellent food and drink producers within its boundaries and it is an honour to be considered one of them.” Adam Komrower

Mr Whiteheads Cider

“We’re so excited. It’s nice to be thought of and recognised and it shows we’re doing something well. We were finalists at last year’s awards, perhaps we’ll take home the trophy in 2012.” Angus Whitehead

Itchen Valley Brewery

“When you’re passionate about something and work really hard to make it happen it’s a great thrill to be recognised for it. We’re all very excited and proud to be nominated.” Richard Robinson

New Forest Marque

Loosehanger Cheeses

“What a fantastic honour. We’ve always taken great pride in representing the New Forest Marque wherever we go so a big big thank you to all our loyal customers who have voted for us.” Gwyn Williams

Simeon Morgan - Aubrey Farm Cottage

“We are delighted that our customers have taken the time to nominate us for this prestigious award. We get a tremendous sense of pride when we sell our meat and get a real buzz when we are told how much it has been enjoyed. It makes all the hard work worth it. We are passionate about offering a very personal service supplying a high quality product; promoting the importance of animal welfare, food provenance and generally educating about food production and farming in the New Forest. We are pleased that our nomination may assist us in reaching a wider audience and in promoting Zwartbles sheep, a breed relatively new to the New Forest area.” Simeon Morgan

Tatchbury Manor Farm

“We were absolutely delighted and very surprised at the nomination, it is great to think that the public are behind our efforts to produce as much locally produced and sourced food from the farm and the forest.” Roy & Sarah Hunt

Chef of the Year

Matt Tomkinson, The Montagu Arms

“I am honoured to have been nominated for the title of Hampshire Life’s Chef of the Year 2012. To be among such esteemed company as my fellow nominees – two of the region’s most respected chefs – is a great feeling. Both myself and my colleagues at the Montagu Arms Hotel are delighted.”

Andrew Mackenzie, Lainston House

“It’s a surprise and honour to be nominated for Hampshire Chef of the Year. I am one of the lucky few who gets to wake up each morning and go to work in such a wonderful hotel, and do just exactly what I love. Working with our local producers and using their wonderful products to give our guests a fantastic dining experience has always and will always be a source of great pleasure to me.”

David Wykes, Verveine

“I am so happy to be nominated again in this category, I always try to use the freshest ingredients possible, most locally sourced and some from our very own kitchen garden. Last year it was a shock to win, truly, and even more of a shock when this category was announced first. I was in pieces as it has been overwhelming and it has helped to keep me focused, it’s lovely to receive some recognition. Thank you.”

Best Hampshire Menu

Hoddington Arms

“The Hodd was created to be a cosy village pub serving great food locally sourced at affordable prices - we think we have managed to achieve this. The team of four chefs led by Phil Webster enjoy creating new dishes. This nomination has been a great honour for our kitchen and we thank those customers who nominated us and who appreciate our food and wine” The Hodd Kitchen team (Phil, James, Ross and Cassia)

The Running Horse

“All the staff at the Running Horse are trained to a high standard and are very appreciative of praise and recognition for their hard work.” Brian O’Callaghan

Verveine

“Since opening the restaurant in 2010, I’ve really gone out of my way to use everything wild in our village and local area. I find myself getting so excited each month from the spring until now starting with wild garlic and ramson flowers, elderflower/berries, sea purslane, samphire, sea kale to name but a few. I have a herb garden at the back of the restaurant and grow a few beetroots, radishes and baby carrots, broad beans, runner beans and of course an array of fabulous herbs, which is wonderful to go out before service and pick fresh produce. We have lovely cheeses, fruits, mushrooms, asparagus and lots more on our menu.” Stacey Crouch

Restaurant of the Year

Chesil Rectory

“We’re thrilled to be nominated for this award because we have worked so hard over the last three years to offer genuine warm hospitality and excellent food at reasonable prices in a unique and intimate atmosphere. Being nominated is not just great for team focus, but wonderful too for team morale.” Eleanor Dodd

Verveine Fishmarket Restaurant

“Well what can I say, it has been an incredible year since we won the awards. The restaurant is going from strength to strength Thank you to everyone who voted. Since the awards we have gained so many more new customers and retained all of our existing customers who have been completely behind us, I would say they were as happy as we were we received the awards. It’s so motivating.” Stacey Crouch

Aviator Brasserie

“I feel it’s a real privilege for the Brasserie to have reached the finals of Restaurant of the Year. It’s a genuine endorsement of what we do here - celebrating the best of local and seasonal food and supporting our local growers and producers - so to feel that it has been voted by our local Hampshire customers makes me feel particularly proud. The team work extremely hard to achieve high standards of service, style and ambience and cuisine, and this is a true reflection of their combined efforts.” Head Chef, Luke Wheaton

Customer Service Award

Rosie Lea’s

“I am so very proud of my wonderful staff!” Rachel Rabbetts

Verveine Fishmarket Restaurant

“This was a lovely surprise! At Verveine we pride ourselves on giving the whole experience from booking a table to arriving at the restaurant, right through to your dining experience, we aim to provide excellent service without being formal or pretentious. It is not just about the food when visiting a restaurant, it’s the whole experience that diner’s look for nowadays.” Stacey Crouch

Chewton Glen

“We are truly delighted to have been nominated for this category. At Vetiver in Chewton Glen we pride ourselves on exceeding our guests’ expectations by delivering only the highest standard of service and this award reinforces that we continue to stay true to our values. Thank you to all of our guests who have continued to support us, they remain at the heart of everything we do.” Restaurant Manager, Alistair Phillips

Pub of the Year

Hoddington Arms

“We opened after a major refurbishment only nine months ago and to be nominated for Pub of the year is very exciting and a great tribute to the fantastic team who work so hard to make The Hodd a special place for our customers to enjoy. We’re grateful to everyone who has nominated us.” Phil and Lisa Webster

Wykeham Arms

“This is just fantastic news. The Wykeham has not been involved in anything of this magnitude since 2008, and it is a true testament to my outstanding team of staff, and what truly is a great pub and a great British institution.” Jon Howard

Three Tuns

“We’re very proud to be nominated. When we opened the Three Tuns it had been closed and empty for some time. We’ve worked really hard to bring this lovely grade II listed neighbourhood pub back to the heart of the community, and we’re delighted our customers and regulars have voted for us. There’s a lot of doom and gloom out there with pubs closing and the downturn in the economy, but the Three Tuns has been an absolute success story.” Eleanor Dodd

Tea shop of year

Rose Lea’s

“I am extremely touched and grateful to all our customers that nominated us. To be shortlisted for such a prestigious award that recognises the very heart of our business is amazing.” Rachel Rabbetts

Somethings Brewing at Watersplash

“We are extremely delighted to be nominated in the tea shop category. We strive to warmly welcome all our customers and ensure they enjoy their visit to our New Forest Tea shop. It is an honour to be recognised by Hampshire Life Food and Drink Awards.” Paula Killengray

The snug

“‘the snug’ felt like a distant ambition just over a year ago but throughout all my training and experience I always knew what I wanted to do and when 101 The High Street, Odiham popped up I couldn’t resist! I feel so flattered and honoured that in under 1 year of opening our customers (snugglers!) feel that I deserved to be nominated. I really wanted to create a quaint, quirky, and welcoming atmosphere and by the way people enter as strangers and leave as friends, I may be on my way to succeeding! I feel really thankful for all their continued support, it wouldn’t be nearly as fun without them!” Lizzie Evans