The evening is a celebration of the rich diversity of our county’s local produce – and the innovative way producers, growers and chefs are using it. The black tie dinner saw many of the inspiring food and drink champions being awarded for their stellar work when it comes to keeping Kent firmly in place on the culinary map of the UK.
Buzzing Winners on the night included several from our area, such as The Bakehouse in Tonbridge, Hammond’s Butchers in Matfield, Kingcott Dairy in Staplehurst, Flint & Oak deli in Westerham, The Small Holding in Kilndown and Biddenden Vineyards. The Bakehouse celebrated by Tweeting: “What a night! Still buzzing after winning the Bakery and Confectionery category with our Kentish Apple Sourdough”, while Kingcott Dairy said: “Thanks to all the judges at Taste of Kent Awards. We’re so happy that Kingcott Blue cheese was voted the overall food product for 2020”.
Biddenden’s Red Love Apple Juice was awarded ‘Kent Tastiest Juice of the Year’ for the second year in a row. “We are extremely proud,” Biddenden’s General Manager, Tom Barnes, told the Times. “A lot of hard work has gone into developing Red Love Apple Juice, and so to pick up this award two years in a row makes it all the more worthwhile. “We would like to thank everyone who voted for us in the initial round to get us through to the judging round, and to all our customers for their continued support.”
Local law firm Thomson Snell & Passmore, who boast a number of specialist food and drink lawyers and are big champions of the foodie scene around Tunbridge Wells, hosted a special table of producers and restaurateurs, including representatives from the Cellar Head Brewing Company, Chapel Down wines and Sankey’s. The new Chief Executive at Produced in Kent, Floortje Hoette, commented: “These awards celebrate the very best in their sector each year, and tonight we celebrated all those businesses from Kent chosen by the public and judged by a team of experts to find the winner for each category. “All the finalists are winners.”
THE TASTE OF KENT AWARDS RESULTS
Kent Hop Grower of the Year
Sponsored by BTF Partnership and Shepherd Neame
Winner: GM Day and Sons, East Peckham
Kent Wine of the Year
Sponsored by NFU Mutual
Winner: Sparkling Rosé by Woodchurch Vineyard, Ashford
Kent Beer of the Year
Sponsored by Eurostar International
Winner: Pale Ale Mary by Northdown Brewery, Margate
Kent Cider or Perry of the Year
Sponsored by Wilkins Kennedy
Winner: Curious Apple by Curious Brewing, Ashford
Kent Farm Diversification of the Year
Sponsored by South East Farmer
Winner: Lower Ladysden Farm, Goudhurst
Kent Local Food Retailer of the Year
Sponsored by Opies
Winner: Flint & Oak Delicatessen and Farm Shop, Westerham
Kent Restaurant of the Year
Sponsored by Thomson Snell & Passmore
Winner: The Small Holding, Kilndown
Kent Butcher Shop of the Year
Sponsored by Furley Page
Winner: Hammond’s Butchers, Matfield
Kent Food Business of the Year
Sponsored by Gullands Solicitors
Winner: Karimix, Selling
Kent Tastiest Juice of the Year
Sponsored by AC Goatham & Son
Winner: Red Love Apple Juice,
Biddenden Vineyards
Kent Dining Pub or Bistro of the Year
Sponsored by University of Kent
Winner: The Butcher’s Block, Burham
Kent Coffee Shop or Tea Room of the Year
Sponsored by Barretts of Canterbury
Winner: Café Nucleus, Rochester
Kent Countryside Award
Sponsored by Kent Downs AONB and High Weald AONB
Winner: Watts Farm, Farningham
Highly Commended: Provenance Potatoes, Deal
Excellence Award for Customer Service
Sponsored by insight6
Winner: The Food Shed at Spadework, Offham
Kent Food Product of the Year
Sponsored by HSBC
Winner: Kingcott Blue, Kingcott Dairy, Staplehurst
Garden of England Champion: Top Fruit Winners
Sponsored by BTF Partnership
- Kent’s Tastiest Apple: Jazz variety, grown by Simon Bray, Monks Farm, Nr Sittingbourne
- Kent’s Tastiest Pear: Concorde variety, grown by Clive and Richard Edmed,
Hayle Farm, Horsmonden
Garden of England Champion: Soft Fruit and Cherries Winners
Sponsored by Kent County Agricultural Society
- Kent’s Tastiest Cherry: Van variety, grown by AC Hulme & Sons, Hoaden, Nr Canterbury
- Kent’s Tastiest Strawberry: Katrina variety, grown by BR Brooks & Son, Goodnestone and Faversham
- Kent’s Tastiest Raspberry: Tulameen variety, grown by J Myatt & Co, Rochester
- Kent’s Tastiest Blackberry: Victoria variety, grown by Clock House Farm Ltd, Coxheath
Kent Food Product Class Winners
Sponsored by Shepherd Neame
- Ambient Class: Cold Pressed Rapeseed Oil by Morghew Park Estate, Tenterden
- Bakery and Confectionery Class: Kentish Apple Sourdough by The Bakehouse at 124, Tonbridge
- Dairy Class: Kingcott Blue Cheese by Kingcott Dairy, Staplehurst
- Prepared Food Class: Celeriac and Apple Soup by The Speedy Snail, East Peckham
- Specialist Alcoholic Drink Class: Rosé Spritz by Maroude, Mereworth
- Specialist Non-Alcoholic Drink Class: Pineapple & Kiwi Edible Tea by Nims Fruit Products, Sittingbourne
- Ambient Class Highly Commended: Beef Dripping by North Downs Real Food, Lenham
- Bakery and Confectionery Class Highly Commended: Huffkin by Speciality Breads, Margate
