Regional suppliers take top accolades

More than 400 food and drink products from the South West have been awarded Taste of the West Food & Drink Awards in the 2006 competition dedicated to finding the region?s best quality products.

A panel of 40 judges awarded 107 Gold, 154 Silver and 156 Bronze Awards to the finest food and drink products out of more than 1,200 entries from producers across the six counties of the South West.

John Sheaves, chief executive of Taste of the West said: ?The South West has an exceptional food identity and a passion for quality food and drink. From this high standard the Taste of the West Food & Drink Awards select the products that stand above the rest and are an important endorsement of the quality and integrity of the product and the producer. Winning a Taste of the West Award gives producers tremendous sales and marketing opportunities and further promotes the South West as the best place for quality food and drink to chefs, caterers, wholesalers, retailers and the public.?

From mature Cheddar to Dorset Blue Vinny Cheese and Exmoor Lamb to South Devon Beef, Tewkesbury Mustard, Dorset Apple Cake and West Country Mead, 417 products were awarded Taste of the West Food & Drink Awards, sponsored by Budgens, in 19 classes covering bakery and confectionery, chilled and frozen deserts, ready meals and sauces, dairy, meat, preserves, drinks and fish.

All of the Award entries were cooked and served to the panel of judges at St Peter?s School, Lympstone, Devon by Richie Abbott, sous chef at Michael Caines Restaurant at the Royal Clarence Hotel, Exeter. The Gold award winners in each of the classes are judged to find the winners of the overall category awards as well as Best Organic Product, Best New Product and Best Packaging. Winners of these categories are then judged again, and one will become the Taste of the West Champion product of 2006.