The BBC Food & Farming Awards Are Back For 2016
Chef, food writer and restaurateur, Yotam Ottolenghi leads the search for the best of British food, drink and farming in the 16th BBC Food & Farming Awards.
On Sunday 10th January, BBC Radio 4’s The Food Programme will open nominations for the BBC Food & Farming Awards calling on people in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to nominate their favourite producers, workplace cooks, local markets and food heroes.
The panel will be looking for winners in a range of categories: Best Food Producer, Best Drinks Producer, Best Food Market, Best Local Food Retailer, Cook of The Year (for public caterers including dinner ladies and men), Countryfile’s Farming Hero Award, and a new BBC Future Food award to find the best new idea in the UK food supply chain.
Also, for the first time, The One Show will be leading the search for the Best Takeaway/Street food in the country. Sheila Dillon, founder of the awards and presenter of Radio 4’s The Food Programme said: “In 2000 we created the awards to cast light on the unsung heroes providing us with great food. They still do that, but what we now see is the awards helping to transform economies and institutions. One winner, prison caterer Al Crisci was given the confidence to go on and set up the Clink Charity, transform prison training and help inmates pursue careers in food. Another winner, Butcher John Mettrick saw his business grow and make a really positive impact on farmers in Derbyshire. We’re anticipating more transformation from the Food & Farming Awards class of 2016.”
Nominations are open for two weeks (10 – 24 January) via www.bbc.co.uk/foodawards. As the longest running food event of its kind in the UK these awards have captured changes in food and drink in Britain over the last 15 years. Previous winners tell stories ranging from an explosion in the UK street food scene to the revolution in school food.
Join the conversation on Twitter @bbcfoodprog #bbcfoodawards For more information about the BBC Food & Farming Awards, or to request images and interviews, contact: Samantha Allen, 07753 425004, Samantha.allen@bbc.co.uk
