the Hunts Post Huntingdonshire Food & Drink Awards 2009
On Monday night at the Old Bridge Hotel in Huntingdon, the winners of The Hunts Post Food and Drink Awards were announced. Each worthy winner was chosen for the service, value and quality they offer their customers. Here we celebrate their success.
Restaurant of the Year and Best Home Grown Meal - The Barn at Pidley
THE owners of the Barn restaurant at Pidley walked away with two accolades in The Hunts Post Food and Drink Awards on Monday night - Best Restaurant and Best Home Grown Menu.
The restaurant, run by Jayne and David Newman, enjoyed the spotlight in the final of the competition held at The Old Bridge Hotel in Huntingdon.
There were seven awards aimed at highlighting the very best food and drink Huntingdonshire has to offer, including Best Pub, Best Producer, Best Independent Retailer and Junior Chef.
It was the third year the awards, sponsored by Huntingdonshire District Council, have been held - and each year the quality of entrants - nominated by Hunts Post readers - gets stronger and stronger.
The night belonged to the Barn, which won Best Restaurant for the second time, and is the first winner of the Best Home Grown Menu, which is sponsored by the Marriott Hotel in Huntingdon.
Mrs Newman, whose husband collected the awards from the event's host, Carol Carmen from BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, said: "We were delighted to win. We thought we were a fairly strong contender for Best Home Grown Menu because that is what the restaurant is about."
Some of the dishes at the Barn are made with food grown in the garden while people from Pidley and Somersham with allotments, orchards and who fish are among the Barn's regular suppliers.
"We have a core menu that we plan a month in advance, but our daily specials are often made of things people bring in to us because they have a surplus.
"If someone has too many runner beans, they will bring them in and we will cook them. We have someone who goes fishing and if he catches trout, he will bring them to us."
Mrs Newman added: "This is a wonderful accolade to win and we couldn't have done it without a fantastic team, we have seven full-time staff and 20 part-time. We have a unique offering, great food and good value for money, which is quite a challenge."
Head chef Jeremy Ireson has been at the Barn for over four years. The sous chef is Darren Rose.
Runners up in the Best Home Grown Menu were Pop Bellies, of Huntingdon, and The Old Bridge Hotel, Huntingdon, which was also shot-listed in the Best Restaurant category along with Abbots Bar and Restaurant at Hemingford Abbots and The Cock at Hemingford Grey.
THE other categories:
Junior Chef
Sponsored by Anglian Water - use AW logo
THIS was won by a 12-year-old Rebecca Anderson following a cook off at the Saxongate Centre on September 26.
Competing again two other youn chefs, Rebecca created a lamb dish as well as baking brownies for desert.
Rebecca won an iPod Touch and the chefs at The Old Bridge will cook her winning dishes for her and her family.
Best Breakfast
THIS award was looking at those places which know how to set their guests and customers up for the day with a great breakfast, but also buy use local ingredients.
Pop Bellies, the intimate café in Huntingdon High Street, took the accolade after reviews for its lunches and evening meals.
As for its breakfasts - our judge said they were beautifully presented and tasty using locally sourced ingredients.
Also shortlisted were: Hinchingbrooke Country Park Café and The Old Bridge Hotel.
Best Food Producer
LITTLE Common Farm Preserves, based in Sawtry, won this award.
The company makes preserves and chutneys using fruit and vegetables grown on its own plot. They are sold at farmers' markets and even the Rayburn used to cook the mixtures is fired with wood dug up from the Fens.
Also shortlisted were: Nutty Tarts, based in Eynesbury and Ron Jacob of Fenstanton.
Independent Retailer
THE winner was described by the judges as a hidden gem. Ron Jacob of Fenstanton offers a wide selection of locally grown produce - some that Ron has grown himself - and others that he has sourced from nearby farmers. There was praise for the variety which the shop manages to sell - as well as the quality it offers.
Also shortlisted were: Brampton Pie Company, Top Banana of Buckden, and Fenstanton Family Butchers.
Pub of the Year
FIERCELY contested again, the Pub of the Year award for 2009 went to the Cross Keys at Upwood.
The judges described it as village pub that has built up a reputation for good food and beer that attracts customers from far and wide. The pub serves freshly prepared food and has regular speciality days with menus designed to fit the theme. Staff were described as friendly and chatty who add to the family-friendly atmosphere.
Also shortlisted were: The White Horse at Tilbrook and the Nelsons Head in St Ives.
Don't agree with out judges choices? Then why not test out the finalists and send us your reviews or even a review of your favourite pubs, restaurant or shop. Reviews will be published in our new food and drink section on www.huntspost24.co.uk