Eat Suffolk Food & Drink Awards 2019: Meet our winners

Saluting all the winners and finalists in the Eat Suffolk Food & Drink Awards 2019 | Words: Jayne Lindill - Photos: Sarah Lucy Brown

Great British Life: Suffolk FADA logo Suffolk FADA logo (Image: Archant)

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.

Great British Life: Winners of the eatsuffolk Food and Drink Awards 2019 Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN Winners of the eatsuffolk Food and Drink Awards 2019 Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN (Image: Archant)

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.

Great British Life: East of England Co-Op logo East of England Co-Op logo (Image: Submitted)

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.

Great British Life: Food and Drink Heroes Food and Drink Heroes- Dulcie and Johnny Crickmore with sponsor- Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN Food and Drink Heroes Food and Drink Heroes- Dulcie and Johnny Crickmore with sponsor- Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN (Image: Archant)