Matt Brady saw some local food heroes recognised at a new awards ceremony.
The Flavours of the Neighbourhoods competition is a new contest set up by Indigo Hotels to recognise the talent and skill of small-scale producers making excellent food.
From six regional nominations chosen by public vote, the overall winner was chosen by a panel of judges including Jimmy Doherty of Jimmy’s Farm, Waitrose Kitchen editor William Sitwell and food blogger Kerstin Rodgers, aka MsMarmiteLover.
The winner
Broighter Gold Rapeseed Oil of Northern Ireland took home the inaugural award. William Sitwell said that it was a “really difficult choice”, but explained that Broighter won not only for its “delicious” flavour but because it was a “scalable business, and very British”.
As well as a plain ‘Liquid Gold’ rapeseed oil, there are four infused varieties available, including chilli, and lemon. The product came into being after founder Leona Kane ran out of olive oil while cooking dinner, and her husband Richard suggested using the cold pressed rapeseed oil he had been using to make bio diesel.
The oil tasted great, and after researching the health benefits compared to olive oil, Leona set up her business, which tripled in size in just three years. It now supplies large hotel chains as well as selling to individuals. There will be four new infused versions added to the range in the coming month.
The other nominations
Though these five missed out on the prize, they still deserve a mention for getting so far, and being part of half a dozen top producers and suppliers in the nation as decided by the public.
The other nominees were as follows:
Vintage Tea Company of Penllergaer, Wales
Buckinghams Cake Palace of Birmingham
Indian Tadka Ltd of Brighton and Hove
The Albion Bakehouse of Merseyside
Ramsay of Carluke Ltd of Carluke
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