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Top food critics judge deliciouslyorkshire Awards 2013

Some of the UK’s top food critics and chefs – including BBC broadcaster Nigel Barden and Sir John Major’s former chef Mathew Benson-Smith – have come together to judge Yorkshire’s most prestigious food contest.

Head judge Nigel Barden, resident chef on BBC Radio 2’s Drivetime and former Yorkshire wine merchant teamed up with other food critics, as well as leading chefs, to take come up with the ultimate shortlist for the 2013deliciouslyorkshire Awards.

Nigel said: “It’s been really exciting to be part of these awards again, which give producers a real chance at making it big in the food world, giving them that mark of credibility and quality. The standard of entries has, as usual, made the judges lives very difficult - and delicious!

“I’ve always been a huge fan of Yorkshire produce and the county’s producers. Nowhere else quite beats Yorkshire for its pursuit of excellence in food. It’s a great pleasure and privilege to host the awards again and give all those amazing artisan crafts people the recognition they rightly deserve.”

Over three gruelling gourmet days recently, the crack team of eight top food experts made it their mission to find the crème de la crème of Yorkshire products, producers and hospitality and catering businesses, drawing up their shortlists for the 12 product categories and nine ‘Champion’ categories.

Also joining the judging line up was Neil Nugent, executive chef of product development at Morrisons and Steve Dunkley regional manager at Eblex.

Chef Mathew Benson Smith, director of the Dean Clough Cooking School, was another member of the deliciouslyorkshire panel, using his 20-plus years cooking experience at award winning restaurants and hotels – and a stint with former Prime Minister Sir John Major – to find this year’s top candidates.

The full shortlist will be announced in early August.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Mark Lane .