DEVON’s talented food and drink scene was alive earlier this month at the 12th Food Drink Devon Awards.

More than 400 individuals from the county’s finest food and drink producers, hospitality and catering businesses and speciality retailers celebrated in style at the esteemed awards’ ceremony, held at Sandy Park the home to Gallagher Premiership Rugby team, the Exeter Chiefs.

Commenting on the awards, Chair of Food Drink Devon, Greg Parsons, said: ‘Devon has a fantastic food and drink scene, one of the best to be found anywhere in this country. Once again, we have enjoyed a record number of entries for the Food Drink Devon Awards and it will be no surprise that we have awarded a record number of Gold and Platinum winners’

During the evening Mike Palmer, Executive Chef at Two Bridges Hotel, Dartmoor was awarded the coveted title of ‘Chef of the Year’. Competition was fierce in the ‘Taste of Devon Product Awards’ with a staggering 300 product entries.

The ‘Food Product of the Year’ accolade went to Springwater Farm for their Free Range Mangalitza Pork Mince with ‘New Food Product of the Year’ being awarded to Andrew King Chocolates for their Signature Nine Nut Selection.

Luscombe fought off stiff competition to claim ‘Drink Product of the Year’ for their Passionate Ginger Beer, while Rull Orchard took home the title of ‘New Drink Product of the Year’ for their Perryote.

From the 300 product entries, all of which were blind-tasted by independent judges, 24 really impressed, achieving a faultless score of 100% and a ‘Platinum’ award including The Husbandry School near Ashburton and their Salad with Edible Flowers.

Products in the ‘Taste of Devon Product Awards’ achieving a score of 90-99% were awarded ‘Gold’ awards of which there were 153, with a further 74 obtaining ‘Silver‘ awards for scoring 85-89%. Food Drink Devon is committed to increasing the county’s profile, both nationally and internationally and represents a membership of Devon’s leading food and drink producers, speciality retailers, hospitality and catering businesses.

Through working with like-minded businesses, together they showcase Devon as a county where the use of fantastic quality, seasonal and local produce is standard. The organisation and its members share a commitment to enjoy, inspire and discover more about food and drink. Look out for their green heart logo which is carried by over 350 producers and businesses across Devon.