IF you ve ever wondered where to find the perfect pint, the best food around or simply discover a restaurant where the service makes you feel special, then the hunt could soon be over. In just under a fortnight s time all will be revealed at The Hunts Pos

IF you've ever wondered where to find the perfect pint, the best food around or simply discover a restaurant where the service makes you feel special, then the hunt could soon be over.

In just under a fortnight's time all will be revealed at The Hunts Post's Huntingdonshire Food and Drink Awards evening at the Old Bridge Hotel in Huntingdon.

The awards, which are being run with Huntingdonshire District Council, form part of the Huntingdonshire Food and Drink Festival - the first festival of its kind to take place in the district. There are four different categories: Restaurant of the Year, Pub of the Year, Producer of the Year and Junior Chef 2007.

The final stage of the judging process is currently taking place at the nominated businesses, while the junior chefs will be competing in a special cook-off in Huntingdon on Saturday, September 8. The winners will be revealed on September 10.

"There have been some very exciting entries in all of the categories, which just goes to show how strong the food and drink industry is in Huntingdonshire," said Andy Veale, editor of The Hunts Post. "There have been some excellent sample menus submitted from restaurants and pubs, and I feel slightly jealous that I'm not one of the judges who gets to sample the food at the short-listed venues."

He added: "It is has also been surprising to see some of the menus which our junior chefs will be cooking during the competition at the Saxongate Centre in Huntingdon.

"The complexity of the many of the dishes is quite remarkable, and the cook-off should be an exciting event for all involved."

Each junior chef had to create a two-course menu on a budget of just £10. Submitted menus have included such dishes as rainbow chicken couscous in roasted peppers, roast wild rabbit stuffed with sausage and tarragon, and a salmon fillet on a crushed new potatoes and red wine sauce with garlic.

The competition, which is sponsored by Anglian Water, will see the real challenge take place in the cook-off when the junior chefs will have to produce their dishes and prove they remained within budget.

All of the nominated restaurants, pubs and producers can be seen here (below).

The Nominees

Restaurant of the Year Sponsored by Waitrose

Nominated restaurants:

Akbar, Eaton Socon

The Barn, Pidley

Bengal Indian, Ramsey

The Cock, Hemingford Grey

Farmers Restaurant, Yaxley

The George Inn, Spaldwick

The George, Buckden

Hodsons Fish Bar, Huntingdon

Molise, St Ives

New Sun Inn, Kimbolton

The Old Bridge, Huntingdon

Pizza Express, Huntingdon

Pop Bellies, Huntingdon

Raj Douth, St Neots

Spiceland, Sawtry

Surf & Turf, St Ives

Pub of the Year Sponsored by Camra

Nominated pubs:

Anchor, Little Paxton

Black Bull, Somersham

Crown, Broughton

Dragoon, Brampton

Duncombe Arms, Waresley

Ferryboat, Holywell

Market Inn, Huntingdon

Oliver Cromwell, St Ives

Pheasant, Keyston

Prince of Wales, Bluntisham

Rivermill, Eaton Socon

Snooty Tavern, Great Staughton

Three Horseshoes, Offord Cluny

Victoria, Huntingdon

White Hart, Alconbury

Windmill, Somersham

Woolpack, St Neots

Producer of the Year Sponsored by Tesco

Nominated producers:

Glebe Farm Organic Flour, Kings Ripton

Porch House Traditional Pork, Wistow

Rivernene Organic Veg, Yaxley

Tom's Cakes, Somersham