Chef, food writer and restaurateur Yotam Ottolenghi leads the search for the best of British food, drink and farming in the 16th BBC Food & Farming Awards.
On Sunday 10 January, BBC Radio 4’s The Food Programme will open nominations for the BBC Food & Farming Awards, calling on people in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to nominate their favourite producers, workplace cooks, local markets and food heroes.
Joining Yotam Ottolenghi and the BBC in a mission to find the cream of British food and farming, are some of the most respected experts on food and drink in the UK: the list includes Angela Hartnett, Diana Henry, Allegra McEvedy, Stefan Gates and Charlotte Smith.
BBC Food & Farming Awards Judge, Yotam Ottolenghi says: "This is my first year judging the BBC Food & Farming Awards and I can’t wait to see where the nominations take me. There’s so much happening throughout the UK and I think the really exciting ideas aren’t to be found at top-end restaurants anymore, they’re in the trucks serving street food and in the food markets at the heart of many towns and cities.
"From cheesemakers to school cooks, brewers to bakers, we don’t give enough recognition and thanks to the people who produce our food and drink. These awards give us all a chance to not only say thanks, but also to celebrate their work."
The panel will be looking for winners in a range of categories:
• Best Food Producer
• Best Drinks Producer
• Best Food Market
• Best Local Food Retailer
• Cook of The Year (for public caterers, including dinner ladies and men)
• Countryfile’s Farming Hero Award
• A new BBC Future Food award to find the best new idea in the UK food supply chain
• Also, for the first time, The One Show will be leading the search for the Best Takeaway/Street food in the country
Sheila Dillon , founder of the awards and presenter of Radio 4’s The Food Programme says: "In 2000 we created the awards to cast light on the unsung heroes providing us with great food. They still do that, but what we now see is the awards helping to transform economies and institutions.
One winner, prison caterer Al Crisci, was given the confidence to go on and set up the Clink Charity, transforming prison training and helping inmates pursue careers in food. Another winner, Butcher John Mettrick, saw his business grow and make a really positive impact on farmers in Derbyshire. We're anticipating more transformation from the Food & Farming Awards class of 2016."
As the longest running food event of its kind in the UK these awards have captured changes in food and drink in Britain over the last 15 years. Previous winners tell stories ranging from an explosion in the UK street food scene to the revolution in school food.
2016’s judging panel consists of:
• Yotam Ottolenghi - food writer and chef
• Sheila Dillon - presenter, BBC Radio 4's The Food Programme
• Fiona Beckett - food and drinks writer
• Jack Adair-Bevan - drinks writer and restaurateur
• Stefan Gates - food writer and broadcaster
• Allegra McEvedy - chef and broadcaster
• Julia Glotz - Managing Editor, Grocer Magazine
• Mike Gooding - farmer and agricultural policy expert
• Angela Hartnett - chef and broadcaster
• Paula Macintyre - chef and broadcaster
• Reza Mahammad - chef and broadcaster
• Diana Henry - food writer
• Charlie Hicks - greengrocer and broadcaster
• Gillian Carter - editor of BBC Good Food magazine
• Roopa Gulati - food writer
• Adam Henson - farmer and broadcaster
• Charlotte Smith - presenter, Farming Today
Once the judges have selected a shortlist for each of the categories, they will visit each finalist in person. Winners will be announced at the BBC Food & Farming Awards ceremony in Bristol on Thursday 28 April.
