FOOD + DRINK
2016 winners
FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR THE
Taste Of Kent Awards 2017
Jason Freedman , Curiously Kentish at the TOKA 17 Launch
THE WAIT IS FINALLY OVER ; THE FINALISTS FOR THE TASTE OF KENT AWARDS 2017 HAVE BEEN REVEALED . FROM OVER 520 KENT NOMINATED BUSINESSES , THE TOP THREE FROM EACH CATEGORY WILL NOW ENTER THE FINAL STAGES , WITH THE HOPE OF BEING CROWNED THE WINNER ON 9TH MARCH 2017 .
The public voted for their favourite businesses and the three finalists in each category will now go forward to be judged by independent mystery shoppers , diners or expert judging panels to find Kent ’ s ultimate ‘ food and drink heroes ’. The final winners will be revealed at a black tie awards dinner on Thursday 9th March , at the Kent Event Centre , which will be catered for by Jason Freedman at Curiously Kentish from Birchington .
The finalists in each category ( in alphabetical order ) are :
KENT BEER OF THE YEAR
Good Life – Goody Ale , Herne Bay Romney Amber – Romney Marsh Brewery , New Romney Smoked Oatmeal Stout – Boutilliers , Faversham
KENT BUTCHER SHOP OF THE YEAR
Stour Valley Game , Chilham S . W . Doughty , Doddington C A Worgans Butchers , Canterbury
KENT CIDER OR PERRY OF THE YEAR
Skylark – Kentish Pip , Bekesbourne Tenterden Cider – Gibbet Oak , Tenterden Wise Owl Medium Sparkling Cider – Wise Owl , Ashford
KENT DINING PUB OF THE YEAR
The Ferryhouse Inn , Isle of Sheppey The George , Molash Samphire , Whitstable
KENT WINE OF THE YEAR
Gribble Bridge Sparkling Wine – Biddenden Vineyards , Biddenden Ortega – Biddenden Vineyards , Biddenden Sparkling Rose 2011 – The Mount Vineyard , Shoreham
KENT JUICE PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Biddenden Vineyards , Biddenden The Cherry Berry Company , Bexleyheath Nightingales ( Gibbet Oak ), Tenterden
KENT LOCAL FOOD RETAILER OF THE YEAR
Gibbet Oak Farm Shop , Tenterden Groombridge Farm Shop , Groombridge Macknade Fine Foods , Faversham
KENT FISHMONGER OF THE YEAR
Aldington Fresh Foods , Ashford Hales & Moore , Rainham Hollowshore Fisheries , Faversham
KENT FOOD PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Bessie ’ s Tea Parlour , Broadstairs Crossway Pigs , Sissinghurst MightyFineThings , Faversham
KENT RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
The Corner House , Minster The Mulberry Tree , Boughton Monchelsea Saltwood on the Green , Saltwood
KENT FARMERS MARKET OF THE YEAR
Cliftonville Farmers Market Tonbridge Farmers Market Shipbourne Farmers Market
A wide range of products have also been entered for the Kent Food Product Classes Awards . These will all be judged by an independent expert panel who will then select an overall winner who will be crowned The Best Kent Food Product of the Year .
Other awards that will be presented at the dinner but which are not open to public voting , are :
KENT YOUNG FOOD & FARMING ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR
KENT COUNTRYSIDE AWARD
GARDEN OF ENGLAND CHAMPIONS – SOFT FRUIT
GARDEN OF ENGLAND CHAMPIONS – TOP FRUIT
Tickets for the awards presentation dinner are available . Full details are available on the website www . tasteofkentawards . co . uk .
This year ’ s awards are run with sponsorship from Cripps LLP ( Main Sponsor ), Biddenden Vineyards , BTF Partnership , Create with Impact , Eurostar , AC Goatham & Son , Hadlow College , HSBC , High Weald AONB , Kent County Agricultural Society , Kent Downs AONB , Moors , NFU Mutual , Opies , Page & Wells , Rix & Kay , Shepherd Neame , Shopper Anonymous , Stephens , Thompson Snell and Passmore , The University of Kent , Wilkins Kennedy FKC , Kent Event Centre , insideKENT and South East Farmer .
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