THE deadline is quickly approaching for the Huntingdonshire Food and Drink Awards 2007 and it is now time to get your entry finished. The awards are open to restaurants, bars, cafés and pubs, market stalls, off licences and all manner of the district s bu

THE deadline is quickly approaching for the Huntingdonshire Food and Drink Awards 2007 and it is now time to get your entry finished.

The awards are open to restaurants, bars, cafés and pubs, market stalls, off licences and all manner of the district's businesses that provide top quality food and drink.

The presentation ceremony for the awards will take place in September and will form part of the Huntingdonshire Food and Drink Awards.

The categories are:

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR is likely to be among the most hotly-contested categories, with judges looking for eateries offering great food from local sources. The winning restaurant will have a good variety of food on the menu, with vegetarians catered for, and will produce delicious meals.

The CAFE/TAKE AWAY OF THE YEAR will operate on the same criteria as the restaurant category, though away from the formal sit-down meal setting.

Entries to the FOOD AND DRINK RETAILER and BEST LOCAL FOOD PRODUCER categories will feature those who supply Huntingdonshire homes and businesses with the very best in locally-sourced foods.

The PUB OF THE YEAR will have a good selection of beer, wines and other drinks, as well as good quality food created using local ingredients. The landlord will also need to demonstrate how the pub fits into the community.

A commitment to selling quality local produce is the main requirement for the MARKET TRADER award. The winning trader can sell either raw materials or cooked food, or both.

A special category for anyone in the district who spends time devoted to producing healthy, balanced meals gives a chance for people to say thank-you. The DINNER PERSON award should be nominated by another person, and budgetary constraints will be taken into account.

The DRINKS SUPPLIER award seeks out those who really know and care about their drink. Whether it is fruit juice, wine, beer or something else, judges will be looking for methods of ensuring a drink is as good as it can be. This might be through making the drink from scratch or simply selling from a shop in the district.

The JUNIOR CHEF award will go to the best young talent in Huntingdonshire, aged 11-14, who has shown aptitude in creating a two-course meal especially for our judges to enjoy.

A special cook-off will be held during the Huntingdonshire Food and Drink Festival, which starts on September 8.

INFORMATION: For more details

on the Huntingdonshire Food and Drink Festival visit www.huntsfoodfestival.co.uk