Revealed: The third course winners at Weetabix’s Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards

A number of Northamptonshire’s best restaurants and chefs have been recognised by Weetabix’s Food and Drink Awards despite a difficult year due to the pandemic.

The competition, which is now in its twelfth year, aims to celebrate all that is great about local produce and drink, recognising excellence within the county’s dining venues and rewarding those who work so hard within the culinary sector.

This year, the awards ceremonies have been moved online due to the pandemic and the first and second round winners have already been announced.

On Wednesday night (March 17), the competition came to a close with the third course winners being virtually presented their prizes in a ceremony hosted by Royal & Derngate.

A new category was also added this year in the form of ‘Food and Drink College Student of the Year’, to applaud an up and coming shining star in the industry.

Below are all of the results from the third round...

Food and Drink College Student of the Year (sponsored by Moulton College):

GOLD with distinction: Austin Howsam – Northampton College

GOLD: Mia Patterson – Moulton College

BRONZE: Bryan Dimalaluan – Tresham College

BRONZE: Joseph Kent – Tresham College

BRONZE: Patryk Kosmala – Tresham College

World Cuisine Restaurant of the Year (sponsored by British Pepper & Spice):

GOLD: Oren Pho, Northampton

GOLD: Truva Charcoal Bar & Grill, Towcester

SILVER: Hashtag Justin Chef, Northampton

BRONZE: Nazreen, Burton Latimer

BRONZE: Saffron, Northampton

BRONZE: The Exotic Dining, Kettering

Booker Dining Venue of the Year (sponsored by Booker):

GOLD: Restaurant Hibiscus, Northampton

GOLD: The Willow and Brook, Apethorpe

SILVER: The Griffin’s Head, Mears Ashby

SILVER: The Hopping Hare, Northampton

SILVER: The Tollemache Arms, Harrington

BRONZE: Italian Market Kitchen, Rothwell

BRONZE: Nuovo, Northampton

BRONZE: The Red Lion Hotel, East Haddon

BRONZE: The Saracen’s Head, Little Brington

Three county businesses were also praised in being awarded a ‘highly commended’.

These are:

Bite Me Spices, Northampton

Etinde House Company, Northampton

Vicky’s Kitchen, Northampton

Among those celebrating with a Gold in the ‘Booker Dining Venue of the Year’ category - to add to the one he picked up as ‘Chef of the Year’ at last month’s second course of awards - is Head Chef of Restaurant Hibiscus in Northampton, Samuel Squires.

Samuel said: “Receiving the chef title last month was a massive boost to me personally, but we have all worked so hard over the last year to create the best possible fine dining experience for our guests, so this is a fantastic achievement and a real reward for all that effort.

“During lockdown we’ve been redecorating, refurbishing our café and adding a new bar with a cocktail menu so we just can’t wait until May 17 when we can welcome back our amazing diners and have a chance to really show off why we’re so deserving of this prestigious award.”

Weetabix Marketing Director, Francesca Theokli, added: “Weetabix is immensely proud to have participated as headline sponsor, helping not to only to shape the awards but also sitting on the judging panels and leading some of its vital business support webinars.

“This competition has seen resilience, dedication and creativity in abundance shown by so many and through maintaining and reinforcing a sense of community across the Northamptonshire food and drink sector, we are thrilled to support its ultimate aim of sowing the seeds for future growth.”

The company is already looking forward to next year’s awards, which will be the thirteenth event.

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