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Exit Survey
 
The Devon Life Food & Drink Awards is now recognised as the Oscars of the local food and drink industry. It gives valuable recognition to producers, growers, suppliers and hospitality venues around the region. The awards would not work without your help and support; now in its tenth year, all the finalists and winners are chosen from nominations sent in by you, our readers. If you have visited a Devon restaurant or pub and enjoyed a particularly good meal with local ingredients, or you have been impressed with the produce and service at a local farmer’s market or independent food shop, then let us know.

You do not have to make a nomination for all the categories – just the ones where you have an opinion.
Closing date: 27th August 2013. Simply scroll down to the category you want to vote in and in the white box tell us who you are voting for, where they are located and why you are voting for them. We look forward to receiving your vote .........


 
 
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR - Sponsored by Arbuthnot Latham
The winner of the category will be the restaurant that – in the judges’ opinion – offers the best dining experience. It’s not just that it serves the most delicious and well-cooked food. Everything from the décor, the service, the food, the wine list and those little finishing touches that make dining such a pleasure, will be judged for this prestigious award. In the box below name: Who you are voting for, why you are voting for them and where they are located.
 
 
 
BEST DRINKS PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
This is your opportunity to nominate your favourite drink – made by a Devon farm producer, retailer or manufacturer. Consider the innovativeness of the item and whether this was achieved without compromising on its taste, indulgence and value for money. In the box below name: Who you are voting for, why you are voting for them and where they are located.
 
 
 
BEST COMMUNITY PUB OF THE YEAR
An opportunity to acknowledge your local, where faces are familiar and the barman knows your name (and your favourite tipple!). Consider how well the establishment uses local suppliers and seasonal produce. Do local juices, wines, beers and cheese appear on the menu? Also note the quality and speed of the service, the overall atmosphere and ambience both inside and outside – from cosy lounges with open fires to child-friendly gardens with vegetable patches. In the box below name: Who you are voting for, why you are voting for them and where they are located.
 
 
 
BEST FARMERS MARKET OF THE YEAR
To judge one farmers’ market from another you really need to have visited a few. Look out for overall presentation of the market, the arrangement of stalls and entertainment and whether it has built upon the needs of consumers and capitalised on the diversity of the region’s local food and drink supply chain. It may even be a new market with only a few stalls that has established itself during the last year. We want to know whether you can taste before you buy and how knowledgeable and happy the stallholders are. In the box below name: Who you are voting for, why you are voting for them and where they are located.
 
 
 
BEST NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
This category is open to small-scale businesses with staff of maximum 3 persons. It could be a forager, mobile enterprise, smoker, baker, cake baker etc. The business must have been running for more than 18 months. In the box below name: Who you are voting for, why you are voting for them and where they are located.
 
 
 
BEST FOOD PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
Open to anyone who produces food from milk, vegetables or produces pies or pickles! We are looking for companies or individuals who connect with their communities and use good quality ingredients to provide an excellent finished product. In the box below name: Who you are voting for, why you are voting for them and where they are located.
 
 
 
BEST TEAROOM / COFFEE SHOP OF THE YEAR
We recognise that tea shops and coffee shops are an integral part of the Devon food and drink scene and we’d like to know your favourites. Who makes the best tea or coffee? Is it tea bags or leaves? Is it instant or freshly ground? Who serves the nicest cakes or the best scones? Is the jam homemade and are the sandwiches freshly cut? We’re looking forward to hearing about your favourites. In the box below name: Who you are voting for, why you are voting for them and where they are located.
 
 
 
BEST BAKER OF THE YEAR
The most important factor in this category is the variety and freshness of products available. We need to know quality of ingredients, taste, texture, flavour and crust! Also take a close look at what range of goods is offered. In the box below name: Who you are voting for, why you are voting for them and where they are located.
 
 
 
BEST BUTCHER OF THE YEAR
Consider asking your butcher how their meat is hung, prepared and cut and whether it can be traced to a local farm. Are the staff friendly, knowledgeable and helpful? Does the butcher play a key role within the local community? If so, we would love to hear from you! In the box below name: Who you are voting for, why you are voting for them and where they are located.
 
 
 
BEST GASTRO PUB OF THE YEAR
The whole eating out experience needs to be taken into account in this category. Judge customer service, value for money and the quality of the food. How well does the establishment use and name local suppliers and seasonal produce? Is there a distinctive menu which gives stand-alone restaurants a run for their money? In the box below name: Who you are voting for, why you are voting for them and where they are located.
 
 
 
BEST FISHMONGER OF THE YEAR
Consider asking your fishmonger where their fish is caught, how fresh the fish is and whether it can be traced to a local fisherman. Are the staff knowledgeable and helpful? Does the fishmonger play a key role within the local community? If so, we want to hear from you! In the box below name: Who you are voting for, why you are voting for them and where they are located.
 
 
 
BEST INDEPENDENT FOOD SHOP
Vote for your favourite local food shop in this category, look out for establishments that genuinely supply items produced and grown here in Devon. This food shop must have a genuine passion for our Devon food scene and a dedication to what it means for the local community. In the box below name: Who you are voting for, why you are voting for them and where they are located.
 
 
 
BEST CHEF OF THE YEAR
The chef of the year is someone who has devoted themselves to the cause of serving the best possible food. Technical ability, use of seasonal ingredients, presentation of the food and understanding of how flavours work together, these are some of the things the chefs nominated will be judged on. This category pits the finest Michelin-starred chefs against those working the local bistro. In the box below name: Who you are voting for, why you are voting for them and where they are located.
 
 
 
BEST SCHOOL FOOD AWARD 2013
You may work at or have children or grandchildren who attend schools in Devon which really value the importance of nutrition and uphold excellent standards of both food and vending. The school must also promote food within the curriculum; perhaps offering cookery clubs, farm visits and taster days. The head teacher in partnership with parents, governors, teachers, local businesses and young people should all be involved. In the box below name: Who you are voting for, why you are voting for them and where they are located.
 
 
 
BEST FAMILY FRIENDLY DINING EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR
Judges of this new category will be looking for a restaurant, café or pub which really meets the needs of family dining, by demonstrating attention to the requirements across the generations of diners both in terms of its food offering, atmosphere, entertainment, sense of theatre, and the variety of menu for guests regardless of age. The award reflects the whole experience, so is aimed at establishments that place a great emphasis on standards of service, both front of house and in the food preparation, as well as having that “certain something” which makes it appeal to the whole family.
 
 
 
BEST DEVON SUNDAY ROAST DINNER
This is a new category introduced to champion one of the nation’s favourite dishes. Vote for your Best Devon Roast Dinner, whether served in a country pub, city hotel, restaurant or staff canteen, what counts is the produce is locally sourced and is cooked and served perfectly!
 
 
Thank you for your vote!