Some of the county’s top food and drink producers and retailers hoping to land Kent’s ultimate accolade for their industry, are a step closer to their goal following the announcement of the shortlist for the Taste of Kent Awards 2008.

A record 42 per cent increase in votes from members of the public were received for the awards - which are in their fifth year and organised by the champions of food and drink for the county, Produced in Kent.

The 12 award categories include Kent Food Producer of the Year, Pub of the Year and Best Kentish Beer. The Kent Innovative Product of the year appears as the extra 13th award for the first time. The judges for this category will be looking for a unique product available to the public, which demonstrates both creativity and originality.

Julie Monkman, manager at Produced in Kent, said: “We are delighted to have had such a magnificent response from the Kent public, it’s a real vote of confidence for our food and drink producers.

“To have received more nominations than ever before shows that people are increasingly interested and knowledgeable about what they eat and where it comes from. Kent has a wide variety of amazing produce and these awards are a great way to highlight that.”

The final stages of judging will include mystery shopper visits and a tasting panel, with the winners being announced at an awards dinner to be held at the Fairfax Hall, Leeds Castle, near Maidstone, on Thursday, February 26.

Produced in Kent is a not-for-profit organisation, which works with food, drink and craft producers within the county to promote fresh produce, local sourcing and a reduction in food miles. Its ethos also aims to reduce food packaging and protect the rural landscape of Kent.

The nominees, in alphabetical order, are:

1 Kent Butcher/Meat Producer of the Year - AJ Barkaways, Faversham The Butcher of Brogdale, Faversham Godmersham Game, Mystole, Canterbury

2 Best Kentish Cider and Perry Biddenden Strong Cider - Biddenden

Vineyards, Biddenden Hard Core, Core Fruit Products Ltd, Mystole, Canterbury

Rough Old Wife, Cork Farm, Old Wives Lees

3 Kent Restaurant of the Year - Michael Caines at the Abode, Canterbury The Mulberry Tree, Boughton, Monchelsea Richard Phillips at Chapel Down, Tenterden

4 Kent Food Producer of the Year - Blue Bell Hill Apiaries, Chatham The Fudgery, Ashford St Nicholas Court

Farms, Birchington

5 Kentish non-alcoholic Drink Producer - Biddenden Vineyards Ltd, Biddenden Core Fruits Products Ltd, Mystole,

Canterbury Pine Trees Farm, Doddington

6 Kent Pub of the Year - sponsored by Biddenden Vineyard

The Chaser Inn, Shipbourne Old Brewery Tavern, Canterbury The Plough at

Stalisfield, Faversham

7 Kent Local Food Retailer of the Year - sponsored by Barclays Bank

The Garden Produce Company, Canterbury Hartley Dyke Farm Shop, Cranbrook The Little Stour Farm Shop, Wingham, Canterbury

8 Best Kentish Beer - sponsored by Belmont International

Chapel Down Brut, Chapel Down Winery, Tenterden Gadds no 3, Ramsgate

Brewery, Ramsgate Spitfire, Shepherd Neame, Faversham

9 Kent Food and Drink Product of the Year - sponsored by Bennett Opie

Biddenden Ortega, Biddenden Vineyards, Biddenden Fudge - The Fudgery,

Ashford Rapeseed Oil, The Chapel Press, Romney Marsh

10 Kent Seafood Retailer of the Year - Farm Produce Eddie Gilberts. Ramsgate Griggs, Hythe Whitstable Fish Market, Whitstable

11 Kent Farmers’ Market of the Year - Cliftonville Farmers’ Market Rochester Farmers’ Market Shipbourne Farmers’Market

12 Best Kentish Wine - sponsored by Maxim PR & Marketing Biddenden Ortega, Biddenden Vineyards, Biddenden Chapel Down Bacchus,

Chapel Down Winery, Tenterden Chapel Down English Rose, Chapel Down Winery, Tenterden

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