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GREAT TASTE OF KENT It’s the moment local food and drink producers wait for with bated breath – the Taste of Kent Awards. Here we find out which top tipples and delicious delicacies have put Kent on the culinary map this year had some challenging decisions Other Wealden companies can to make. From the record congratulate themselves on reaching the number of businesses top three in their category via votes from nominated, to the thousands of happy customers. The Milk House in people who took the time to vote Sissinghurst narrowly missed out to for the three finalists in each Molash’s George Inn in the Dining Pub of category, this year has again the year category, while highly praised demonstrated the public’s Great Preservations – based in Tonbridge enthusiasm for good quality – saw Hot Face Sauces from Maidstone Kentish produce.” take the Food Producer of the Year award. Chapel Down Winery in “The awards highlight the very finest Tenterden are no strangers to produce the county has to offer,” adds praise and this year they saw Stephanie Durling. “For the winners, the off competition from local rivals Taste of Kent Awards are the ultimate Biddenden Vineyards to win accolade in the Kentish food and drink Best Kentish Wine, with their sector, but it is not just about celebrating Bacchus. Biddenden Vineyards great tasting food once a year. If we all were also finalists in the Best sourced 10% of our weekly groceries from Kentish Cider or Perry category Kent producers, retailers and farmers’ with their Strong Kentish Cider, markets, we could help to generate over Josh Donaghay-Spire of Chapel Down Winery in Tenterden accept the award from Annabel Clarke of class sponsor, but Wise Owl Cider from £185million for our local economy.” Investaco Ashford took away the crown. Marden based Anno Distiller www.producedinkent.co.uk EVERYONE LIKES THEIR WORK to can put the Best Food Product trophy on be appreciated and for the ever-growing their mantelpiece, thanks to foodie scene in Kent, it’s great to know that their triumphant Kent Dry Gin, they’re hitting the flavour nail on the head. which also won the Specialist The Taste of Kent Awards, run by Produced Drinks class. The Kentish Blue in Kent, aims to give a pat on the back to Cheese produced by Kingcott those producers who are making a meal of Cheese in Staplehurst our natural resources and showing the impressed in the Catering culinary world what Kent can do. category, while the Double After months of public voting, three finalists Organic Cream from Silcocks in each category were put before an expert Farm in Tenterden was judged judging panel to decide who would earn the the cream of the crop in the prestigious winners’ accolades this year. At a Dairy section. stylish awards ceremony at the Kent County Fruit was not overlooked – Showground at Detling, the victors were Richard and Clive Edmed from announced and it was revealed that a Horsmonden won the Top Pear number of Wealden businesses have been award with their delicious named flavour of the month. Concorde variety, while Lower Stephanie Durling of Produced in Kent Ladysden Farm’s Glen Ample says: “The competition this year has been variety raspberries earned the Steward Tricker (left) from class sponsor Shepherd exceptionally close and all the judges, Marden company a gong in the Neame with Barnaby and Hannah Loades of Silcocks mystery shoppers and secret diners have Soft Fruit classes. Farm, Tenterden APRIL 2015
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