Excitement is building as Winchester Food Festival - a celebration of our finest local produce - is to return to the city.
The festival, organised by Hampshire Fare and supported by Winchester BID and Winchester Cathedral, will be held in Cathedral Outer Close on July 14. It is free to attend.
At the festival, there will be seven winners of a coveted Guild of Fine Food, Great Taste Award. This is the world’s most respected food accreditation scheme for artisan and speciality food producers.
River Test Distillery’s classic London Dry gin with gently honeyed, floral notes and infused with handpicked meadowsweet flowers won its first award in 2021.
Co-founder Sarah Nelson said: “Winning a Great Taste Award was fantastic for us as customers view the award as a mark of excellence. We'll be bringing all three of our award-winning gins.”
The Fabulous Catch Company won their first Great Taste Award back in 2013 for their Crabbie Crabcakes and Proper Posh Crab Bisque.
They have continued to scoop up awards every year. They have also just won Aldi’s Next Big Thing which saw their Crabulous Crabcakes sold in 960 UK stores.
Butler Country Estates have won many Great Taste Awards for their delicious and indulgent smoked local trout pates. They will bring their winners, classic, dill and beetroot & horseradish pates to the Festival as well as other flavours and dairy-free options.
Tracy Thew of New Forest Shortbread won her first Great Taste award in 2022 for her All-Butter Shortbread. It’s made with only three ingredients, exactly like Tracy’s Nana used to make. She will be selling these and her award-winning Rosemary and Earl Grey flavours and other favourites on July 14.
The Book & Bucket Cheese Company, founded by Peter Morgan, have picked up 10 Great Taste awards since 2020. They will have many of them at the Festival including Shakespeare, a Brie style cheese made using sheep’s milk, which received a coveted two gold stars.
The Butter Bike Co received Great Taste Awards for their Almost Smooth, Rugged, Smoked Chilli, and Chocolate Peanut Butters.
Founder Jeni Reeve said: “Winning is a bit of a badge of honour, it’s the most coveted of the foodie accolades and we’re thrilled to have scored an award for each year we’ve been trading.”
Fordingbridge Fudge produce traditional, luxury homemade fudge using locally sourced ingredients and no artificial. They will have their Great Taste award winning Sea Salted Caramel fudge alongside 25 other favourites at the festival.
For more go to hampshirefare.co.uk/news-events/news/the-winchester-food-festival-returns
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