FOOD + DRINK
THE TASTE OF KENT AWARDS 2023
THE TASTE OF KENT AWARDS ( TOKA ), NOW IN ITS 18TH YEAR , CELEBRATES THE TASTIEST FOOD AND DRINK OF KENT . THE AWARDS SHINE A SPOTLIGHT ON THE REGION ' S EXCELLENCE IN PRODUCING FINE QUALITY BRITISH PRODUCE .
Held on Thursday 15 June at The Gulbenkian , University of Kent , the award evening by Produced in Kent saw the inaugural Taste of Kent Awards Food and Drink Festival , a brand-new event for 2023 , devised to showcase the county ’ s fabulous tradition of excellence in food and drink , before the awards ceremony announced this year ’ s winners ...
... AND THE WINNERS ARE :
Savoury Pantry Eve ’ s Temptation Apple and Fig Chutney . The Wooden Spoon Preserving Company , Wye .
Sweet Pantry Gourmet Granola . Pebble Beach Bakery , New Romney .
Savoury Bakery Gilda Country Sourdough . Gilda Bakery , Canterbury .
Sweet Bakery Spiced Apple Cruffin with Miso Caramel & Candied Walnut . Docker Bakery , Hythe .
Confectionery The Spring Collection Box . The Chocolate Pig , Birchington .
Cheese Kingcott Blue . Kingcott Dairy , Staplehurst .
Dairy Honeycomb Ice Cream . Simply Ice Cream , Ashford .
Prepared or Cured Meat Mr . Pepper ’ s Sausages . Macknade , Faversham .
Fresh Meat or Poultry Rare Breed Pork Chop . Oink and Udder , Canterbury .
Fresh Fish or Seafood Smoked Salmon , Tankerton Smokeshed , Tankerton .
Ready to Cook Chicken & Mushroom Pie . Yes Chef Boxes , Aylesford .
Non-alcoholic Cold Drink Spiced Apple Juice . Chegworth Valley , Harrietsham .
Non-alcoholic Hot Drink Maypole Blend . Garage Coffee Roasters , Canterbury .
Spirit Greensand Ridge Plum Brandy . Greensand Ridge Distillery , Shipbourne .
Beer Bishops Finger . Shepherd Neame , Faversham .
Wine Woodchurch Classic Brut 2017 . Woodchurch Wine Estate , Woodchurch .
Cider Biddenden Ice Cider . Biddenden Vineyards , Biddenden .
Independent Retailer Detling Community Store , Detling .
Food & Drink Market Lenham County Market , Lenham .
Fine Dining Experience of the Year The Sportsman , Seasalter .
Casual Dining Experience of the Year THE PIG - at Bridge Place , Bridge .
Street Food Funky Feast Food Bazaar , Maidstone .
Fruit Grower of the Year Clock House Farm , Coxheath .
Farmer of the Year Bore Place – Commonwork Organic Farms Ltd . Edenbridge .
Start Up Food and Drink Business of the Year Ben ’ s Kitchen , Tonbridge .
Special Award : Free-From Product of the Year Spiced Apple Cruffin with Miso Caramel & Candied Walnut , Docker Bakery , Hythe .
Special Award : Free-From Business of the Year Oscar & Bentleys , Canterbury .
Special Award : Sustainable Food & Drink Business Award Ro-Gro , Sittingbourne .
Special Award : Community of the Year Fudge Kitchen , Lyminge .
Floortje Hoette , CEO Produced in Kent , said : “ It ’ s been another phenomenal year for the Taste of Kent Awards , and I congratulate all of the finalists and winners , they were all extremely impressive . It ’ s also fantastic to have launched the very first Taste of Kent Awards Food and Drink Festival which enabled the public to sample the very best of Kent ’ s produce first-hand .”
The awards are made possible because of the generous support of TOKA ’ s sponsors . Southeastern , The University of Kent , Kent County Council , Brachers , Canterbury BID , Crowe UK , EKC Group , Jestic Foodservice Solutions , NFU Mutual Ashford Tenterden & Whitfield , Oxbury , Primed , Port of Dover , Shepherd Neame , The University of Greenwich , Social Enterprise Kent , Southern Coop and Visit Kent .
For more information and the full list of winners please visit : tasteofkentawards . co . uk .
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