Taste Cheshire Crown Food and Drink Champions #Blog
Stephen Wundke
25th April 2019
In a glittering affair with over 400 people in the Pavilion at Chester Racecourse, Taste Cheshire crowned the food and drink champions for 2019.
The annual Taste Cheshire Food and Drink Awards, now in their 19th year was packed with both the hospitality trade and food and drink producers from right across Cheshire. 44,000 people voted in the awards to come up with key nominations in each category who were then mystery dined or shopped. Taste Cheshire CEO, Stephen Wundke said “This has been a simply fabulous night, 20 years ago when these awards were first created, I don’t think we could ever have imagined how big they would be. We don’t know of any other awards of this type were over 40,000 people vote and to have over 400 people here tonight shows the value that the industry puts on them. I am delighted and proud to be associated with this special event and I am convinced that these awards have helped drive the standard of food and drink in Cheshire to the highs it currently enjoys. Thank you to everyone who voted and I hope your choices did well. To me they are all winners here tonight”
Each category featured a Gold, Silver and Bronze winner and the awards also crowned the Sausages of the Festivals and the Taste Cheshire Young Chef of the Year.
Highlights of the night included The Chester Fields winning their 6th Gold for Best Use of Local Produce in a Menu, 17 year old Matthew Pearson, from Colleg Cambria being Crowned the Taste Cheshire Young Chef of the Year and Brian Mellor of Harthill Cookery School receiving The Outstanding Achievement in the Industry Award.
Newcomer, The Oakfield at Chester Zoo picked up two gold awards with the Machine House being crowned Best Small Restaurant to add to their numerous other national awards and Restaurant 1539 named Best Large Restaurant.
The winners are …….
The Best use of Local Produce in a Menu – sponsored by Taste Cheshire
Gold – The Chester Fields, Mickle Trafford
Silver – The Faulkner, Hoole
Bronze – The Pheasant Inn, Burwardsley
Sausages of the Festival – Sponsored by The NoWFood Centre, University of Chester
Traditional Sausage – Pen y Lan Pork, Wrexham
Flavoured Sausage – Muffs of Bromborough
Best Sandwich Shop – sponsored by Horseradish Caterers
Gold – Peak Sandwiches, Chester Market
Silver – Cheshire Sandwich Company, Godstall Lane
Bronze – Bloom of Nantwich
Excellence in Customer Care – sponsored by Chester Zoo
Gold – Deadwood, Nantwich
Silver – Little Tap, Tarporley
Bronze – Urbano 32, Chester
Family Friendly Venue of the Year – Sponsored by Nisbets
Gold – The Oakfield, Chester Zoo
Silver – Hickory’s Smokehouse, Chester
Bronze – Storyhouse Live, Chester
Best Café – Sponsored by We Love Good Times
Gold – Farm Made, Audlem
Silver – Bean and Cole, Chester
Bronze – The Moorings, Chester
Local Produce Shop of the Year – Sponsored by Taste Cheshire
Gold – The Hollies Farm Shop, Tarporley
Silver – Cheerbrook, Nantwich
Bronze – Bellis Brothers, Holt
Best Bar – Sponsored by Dee 106.3
Gold – Lono Cove, Chester
Silver – Bar 6, Sandbach
Bronze – Little Tap, Tarporley
Best Delicatessen – Sponsored by Harthill Cookery School
Gold – Deli Vert – Hoole
Silver – Deli Fine – Holt
Bronze – Monks Delicatessen – Runcorn
Small Food Producer – sponsored by Square Pie
Gold – The Weston Biltong Company
Highly Commended – Howl at the Moon Sauces & Big 5 Sauces
Large Food Producer – Sponsored by Square Pie
Gold – The Ice Cream Farm, Tattenhall
Highly Commended – The Cheshire Brewhouse & Hunters Gin
Drinks Producer – Sponsored by Square Pie
Gold – Great Drams
Highly Commended – Weetwood Ales & Harry’s Milkshakes
Best Pub – Sponsored by Wrexham Lager
Gold – The Chester Fields, Mickle Trafford
Silver – The Faulkner, Hoole
Bronze – The Fox and Hounds, Sproston
Best Newcomer – Sponsored by Love Lane Pale Ales
Gold – The Oakfield, Chester Zoo
Silver – Antrobus Arms, Northwich
Bronze – Bean and Cole, Chester
Best Small Restaurant – Sponsored by Ginsmiths of Liverpool
Gold – Machine House, Rossett
Silver – Upstairs at the Grill, Chester
Bronze – Joseph Benjamin, Chester
Best Large Restaurant – sponsored by Deva Fest
Gold – Restaurant 1539
Silver – La Fattoria
Bronze – Opera Grill
Outstanding Achievement Award Winner – Brian Mellor, Harthill Cookery School
Taste Cheshire Young Chef of the Year – Matthew Norman, Coleg Cambria
