insideKENT Magazine Issue 35 - February 2015 | Page 65

FOOD+DRINK

Finalists announced for
The Taste of Kent Awards 2015

The Taste of Kent Awards 2014 winners

From over 550 businesses nominated, the top
three with the most public votes from each
category will now enter the next stage, with the
hope of being crowned a winner in March.
Stephanie Durling of Produced in Kent,
comments: “This year has again seen people
voting in their thousands, with the number of
votes we received up by around 50 per cent. We
are delighted that the public is so enthusiastic to
celebrate the very best Kent produce, and this
year we received nominations for a record number
of businesses.”
The Taste of Kent Awards, organised by
Produced in Kent to showcase Kent’s finest food
and drink products, provides the general public
with a unique opportunity to handpick and vote
for their favourite producers, retailers, restaurants,
dining pubs, and farmers’ markets.
James Beatton, partner at Cripps LLP –
the awards’ main sponsor – said: “We are proud
to be the main sponsor of The Taste of Kent
Awards again. It is great to see so many new
entrants and such a large increase in votes. It is
very clear that the awards continue to go from
strength to strength, underlining the importance
of the food and drink sector to this county.”
Stephanie Durling continues: “We have
seen many newcomers to the finalists' list this
year. This includes: Juice Executive, Wise Owl
Cider, The Milk House, Capel-le-Ferne Farmers’
Market, MB Farms, Peters Produce, Chegworth
Valley, Stour Valley Game, Hush Heath, Hudsons’
Fish, Hales & Moore, Peter’s Produce, Great
Preservations, Kentish Pieman, Hotface Sauces,
The Corner House, The King’s Head, and Monty’s
Greengrocers.
“There are also a number of last year’s
winners who continue to win the public votes,
with Goody Ales, Duddas Tun, Biddenden
Vineyard, Court Farm, and Macknade Fine Foods
all