Best Restaurant of the Year
in association with ‘Taste of the West’ sponsored by Knight Frank
Devon Life Food and Drink Awards - 2008
This category can include high street or hotel restaurants. Look out for any nutritional pledge to customers, knowledge of any special diet messages and their support of local produce. Judge it on the food’s value for money and its quality. How well was the meal cooked, and was the menu interesting? Note down also the quality and speed of the service, the knowledge of the staff and the overall atmosphere.
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Best Entrepreneur /Innovative Product
Devon Life Food and Drink Awards - 2008
Have you come upon a locally produced food product or kitchen item that you’ve never seen before and been so impressed by its quality that you’ve ordered more - and told your friends all about it? In this category we’re looking for people who have seen a need in the market - and gone out and filled it with style.
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Best Food Producer
Devon Life Food and Drink Awards - 2008
This is aimed at the person who rears the cattle, grows the vegetables or produces the pickles. How have they brought their produce to market? Has it been locally grown and what is the quality like? What about the packaging - are all the ingredients listed and easy to read? How has the produce been promoted and has it been pitched at the right price for the market?
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Best Drinks Producer
Devon Life Food and Drink Awards - 2008
This category looks at the brains behind our vineyards, orchards and breweries. Do they use all fresh, natural ingredients for their juices or presses, or quality traditional varieties of hops and barley for their beers? Is the packaging easy to read, and are their products free of artificial preservatives, flavourings or colourings?
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Best Country Pub
Devon Life Food and Drink Awards - 2008
Ambience is all-important here. Check out pubs with clean, cosy lounges with open fireplaces and personable staff. Does the establishment offer value for money? Look at the variety of beers on offer - are local varieties available? Do they support local suppliers? Is there a traditional atmosphere with pub games and quizzes?
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Best Tearoom/Coffee shop
Devon Life Food and Drink Awards - 2008
This category also encompasses cafes and bistros. Look out for the variety of homemade quiches, pasties, pies, biscuits and cakes available. Are local products such as locally produced fruit juices, preserves and cream available? Consider too the quality of service and the knowledge of the staff.
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Best Organic Product / Trader
Devon Life Food and Drink Awards - 2008
Is an organic product you have sampled way better than its non-organic equivalent? Judge it on taste, quality and value for money. This category also encompasses traders that specialises in organic produce, and restaurants and catering businesses that value and use organic ingredients in their dishes.
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Best Baker
Devon Life Food and Drink Awards - 2008
The most important factor of this category is the variety and freshness of products available. Take a close look at the range of breads, cakes and confectionery goods offered.
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 Best Farmers' Market
Devon Life Food and Drink Awards - 2008
Only official farmers’ markets can be entered, with producers from a 30-mile radius selling their own produce. Look out for the overall presentation, the mixture of arts and crafts with cafes and entertainment. Is there a good variety of stallholders and do they present their produce well? Are they carrying out cooking demonstrations and can you sample the food?
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Best Dining Pub
Devon Life Food and Drink Awards - 2008
Here, the whole eating-out experience needs to be considered. Judge the pub on the quality and knowledge of the staff, the speed of service, the value for money and the quality of the food. Is local produce used? Was the menu interesting? Was a range of vegetarian options offered? How were you influenced by the overall atmosphere?
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 Best Newcomer
Devon Life Food and Drink Awards - 2008
This category is to highlight any newcomers to the food and drink industry who show a clear understanding of the marketplace and display qualities that are original and innovative. It spans all sectors, for any new enterprise associated with local food that has been operating less than two years.
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Best Chef
Devon Life Food and Drink Awards - 2008
For this category look at the use of local and seasonal produce - does the chef change the menu to reflect this? Does he ask your views on your dining experience? Every chef wants to tantalise your taste buds, so tell us if the chef’s dishes excited you and had you going back for more.
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Best Independent Food Shop
Devon Life Food and Drink Awards - 2008
This category encompasses shops that specialise in local produce - farm shops, delicatessens, greengrocers, bakers or fishmongers. Look out for value for money, friendliness of staff and how knowledgeable they are. Does the food look fresh and appetising, is it seasonal, well labelled and is there a good range?
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Best Butcher/Meat Producer
Devon Life Food and Drink Awards - 2008
Ask your butcher/meat producer questions about where his meat comes from. If it’s a butcher, check on the variety of items on sale and the service from the staff in the shop. Question the butcher’s or meat producer’s principles regarding traceability and knowledge of hanging and cooking the meats.
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Best Fishmonger
Devon Life Food and Drink Awards - 2008
Ask your fishmonger questions about where his fish comes from. Check on the variety and freshness of the produce on display. Test his knowledge of various fish.
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