Have you voted for your favourite yet? Taste of Kent Awards 2016
As the festive season approaches, it is almost impossible to avoid indulging your taste buds with delicious food and drink from around the county. So if you happen to stumble upon a new favourite Kentish producer, why not show your appreciation and cast your votes in Kent’s most popular food and drink awards, The Taste of Kent Awards 2016. Nearly 500 businesses have already been nominated, make sure you add your favourites to the list!
Voting could not be simpler, simply visit www.tasteofkentawards.co.uk before public voting closes on 4 January 2016.
The Taste of Kent Awards are organised by Produced in Kent and showcase Kent’s finest food and drink products and producers. From best beer to wine, dining pub to restaurant, there are many categories to choose from and it provides the general public with a unique opportunity to hand pick and vote for their favourites. So what or who has been your favourite produce, producer, retailer, restaurant, dining pub and farmers’ market?
James Beatton a partner at Cripps, the awards main sponsor, comments: “In Kent we are luckier than many of us realise. We have some of the country’s leading producers, retailers and places to eat and drink on our doorstep. With Cripps’ longstanding associations with the food and drink sector, we’ve got to know many of them over the years. However, there are also new ideas, products and businesses every year and we’re eagerly waiting to see (and taste) what’s captured the public interest over the last 12 months. To those already nominated – good luck! To those yet to vote – mind the deadline!”
Stephanie Durling of Produced in Kent comments: “This is the only food award in Kent that allows the public to decide who is worthy of the winning title. Voting is really easy, simply visit the website and click on who you would like to vote for in each category, or add them to the list if they haven’t yet been nominated http://www.tasteofkentawards.co.uk/vote/”.
Following the public vote, the top three finalists in each category will go forward to be judged by mystery shoppers and diners or an expert judging panel to select the ultimate ‘food and drink heroes’. The awards presentation dinner will take place on Thursday 3 March 2016 at the Kent Events Centre at the Kent Showground. If you’d like to come along to the black tie extravaganza and enjoy a sumptuous Kentish meal please email events@producedinkent.co.uk, or visit the website for more details.
In addition to the online voting site, voting forms are also available from farmers’ markets and independent food shops and can be posted to Produced in Kent Ltd, Charcott Holm Farmhouse, Tonbridge Road, Hadlow, Kent, TN11 0AH.
This year’s awards are run with sponsorship from Cripps LLP, Stephens, Rix & Kay solicitors, Eurostar, Wilkins Kennedy FKC, AC Goatham & Son, Opies, The University of Kent, Shopper Anonymous, Biddenden Vineyards, Thompson, Snell & Passmore, Page & Wells, Hadlow College, Shepherd Neame, HSBC, Hush Heath Estate, Moor’s juice, Kent Downs & High Weald AONBs, EMR, and BTF Partnership, with a special award for Kent Young Food & Farming Entrepreneur of the Year sponsored in honour of Mike Rusbridge. For further details please visit www.tasteofkentawards.co.uk
