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Taste of Excellence Awards

Following last year�s hugely successful competition we are again inviting readers to locate the best places to eat within the county.

Words: Josie Thurston

This annual event has now reached its eleventh year and aims to promote the very best of Lincolnshire.

The Lincolnshire Life Taste of Excellence Awards could not run without the support of our readers and sponsors of the different categories. As the years have progressed, emphasis on quality and locality of ingredients has become priority as businesses aim to reduce their carbon footprints and provide food of a high standard.

Categories will remain the same as in previous years, with a slight amendment to the Young Chef of the Year criteria. This is open to students at Lincoln College who can submit a three-course menu. The top three menus entered before the deadline will be chosen to cook the meal in a two-hour slot under exam conditions at the college, to be judged by representatives from the food industry.

The best pub food category is to be sponsored by Geo Adams of Spalding and if last year’s winner (Inn on the Green at Ingham) is anything to go by then it is a tough category with fantastic competition – but your votes are needed to ensure your favourite is in with a chance!

The third category is for the best restaurant in the county. Sponsored by House of Townend, this category is reserved for establishments opening as a restaurant only rather than pubs with a restaurant. If you know of somewhere that consistently exceeds expectations then fill in a form and post it off to us at the usual address, before the deadline. Last year’s award was won by The Old Bakery, Lincoln.

The final category is for the best tea room. Again, kindly sponsored by Pipers Crisps. This category honours the best in light bites and snacks and caters for the smaller run business. Last year’s winner was the Beanbag Tea Room in Bourne.

Cast your vote on the form enclosed in this month’s magazine and send it in to Lincolnshire Life. You can nominate for all or just one of the categories and once the deadline has passed, the votes will be counted and the top three establishments will then be anonymously visited by a panel of judges. The establishments will not be notified of the shortlist and so will not be aware of any visitation.

All places are judged on the quality of the food, the choices on the menu, the ambience and décor of the building and the friendliness and knowledge of the staff. They will also be judged on the locality of the produce, often indicated on the menu, but it is often worth asking should this not be the case as it is an important element of the competition.

The overall sponsor is Taste of Lincolnshire, the organisation set up to promote the use of local food and to bring suppliers into contact with consumers. Show your support and cast your vote before September 30th 2008.