BBC Radio 4’s The Food Programme is calling on people across the UK to nominate their local cooks, markets, food businesses and food heroes. Nominations are open for two weeks via www.bbc.co.uk/foodawards.
Sheila Dillon, award founder and presenter of The Food Programme, said: “These awards were set up to celebrate the achievements of dedicated and passionate food producers, chefs and farmers throughout the UK.
“Without communities sharing their support, knowledge and nominations we wouldn’t be able to recognise their achievements and I can’t wait to see which artisans and initiatives we discover this year.”
The chef, whose own work was serialised in a BBC 1 television series, will be joined on the judging panel by a host of respected experts from across the food and drink industry, including Angela Hartnett, Giogio Locatelli, Richard Corrigan and Charlotte Smith.
The UK-wide awards celebrate the people and organisations in Britain who produce and sell quality food. Awards categories for the event include: Best Food Market, Best Takeaway/Street food, Cook of the Year, and a new award for this year, Countryfile’s Farming Hero Award.
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 30 April. The ceremony will launch Bristol Food Connections, which runs from 1 to 9 May. A partnership between the BBC, Bristol City Council, UWE, Bristol University and other Bristol institutions, the festival is a citywide food festival that celebrates Bristol’s diverse food culture and community.
2015’s judging panel consists of:
• Fiona Beckett - food and drinks writer
• Joanna Blythman – food journalist
• Pete Brown – drinks expert and writer
• Charles Campion – food writer and broadcaster
• Richard Corrigan – chef and broadcaster
• Al Crisci – prison catering manager, founder of The Clink
• Kath Dalmeny – Policy Director, Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming
• Sheila Dillon – presenter, Radio 4's The Food Programme
• Julia Glotz – Managing Editor, Grocer Magazine
• Mike Gooding – farmer and agricultural policy expert
• Peter Gott – farmer and market trader
• Angela Hartnett – chef and broadcaster
• Tim Hayward – food writer, Financial Times
• Adam Henson – farmer and broadcaster
• Christopher Hirst – food writer
• Diana Henry – food writer
• Giorgio Locatelli – chef and broadcaster
• Paula Macintyre - chef and broadcaster
• Professor Gabriel Scally – expert in public health
• Charlotte Smith - presenter, Farming Today
• Cyrus Todiwala – chef, food writer and broadcaster
• Valentine Warner – cook, food writer and broadcaster