Hairy Biker Dave Myers oversees food and drink first in Cumbria (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Hairy Biker Dave Myers oversees food and drink first in Cumbria

10:21am Tuesday 6th December 2011 in Lifestyle

TV HAIRY Biker Dave Myers was guest of honour at the first Cumbria Food and Drink Awards, which saw the prestigious Restaurant of the Year award go to Simon Rogan’s Michelin-starred L’Enclume in Cartmel.

Mr Rogan also picked up a special award from chef Steven Doherty, chairman of judges, for outstanding achievement in Cumbria’s food and drink industry.

The event, hosted by Kendal College, paid tribute to Sillfield Farm’s Peter Gott for raising awareness of Cumbrian produce and his work to protect the status of the Traditional Cumberland Sausage; and to Sharrow Bay’s Colin Akrigg who Mr Doherty said gave him his first introduction to Cumbrian food.

Low Sizergh Barn, near Kendal, picked up the Best Farm Shop award with the judges describing it as ‘the quintessential farm shop experience that has grown and got better and better over the years’.

Holbeck Ghyll Country House Hotel in Windermere was said to be the ‘epitome of the country house fine dining experience’ as it claimed the Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year award.

For the Best Newcomer award, the judges confessed to being ‘blown away by the experience and the sense of community’ at the General Burgoyne in Great Urswick near Ulverston.

Overall, judges praised the standard of entries received and said that there were definitely future winners among the finalists as it was tough to choose between worthy entrants.

Mr Doherty, chef and proprietor of the First Floor Cafe at Lakeland in Windermere, said he had encountered some ‘fantastic’ standards while visiting venues as part of the judging process.

He added: “This has made me feel incredibly proud and happy to be part of the Cumbrian food scene, which is such a vibrant and exciting arena.”

Other winners were: Best Tea Shop, The Watermill, Little Salkeld; Best Specialist Food Retailer, Cranstons Cumbrian Food Hall, Penrith; Large Supplier/Producer of the Year, Bells of Lazonby; Small Supplier/Producer of the Year, Ginger Bakers, Kendal; Chef of the Year, Justin Woods, The Castle Green Hotel, Kendal; Dining Pub of the Year, The Highwayman Inn, Burrow; Best Newcomer, The General Burgoyne, Great Urswick; Best Cumberland Sausage, Plumgarths, Kendal; Best Bread, The Moody Baker, Alston; Best Condiment; Elliott’s Piccalilli, Milnthorpe; Best Beer, Coniston Brewery’s Blacksmith’s Ale, Coniston. The Best Pudding/Dessert category was a 4-way tie between Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding, Cartmel Village Shop, Cartmel; Luxury Christmas Pudding, Coniston; Country Kitchen Larder, Coniston; Hunter Chocolate Fudge, Hunters Puddings; Syrup Sponge Pudding, Country Puddings, Penrith.

The Cumbria Life Food and Drink Awards were supported by Kendal College and main sponsor Total Foodservice.