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The sixth Cumbria Food Awards will take place at Kendal College on Thursday, 18 March 2027, sign up to our newsletter for the first news on entries and nominations.
With a mission to recognise and reward excellence in the county’s hospitality industry, the Cumbria Food Awards are back for a sixth year.
Held in association with headline sponsor Caterite, the independent awards will culminate in a celebratory event hosted by Nisha Katona, the founder of Mowgli Street Food restaurants, at Kendal College next March.
The TV chef, influencer, restaurateur and author will take to the stage to announce the winners of 13 competitive awards, plus three special trophies.
The awards, which are supported by category sponsors, recognise outstanding chefs, restaurants, pubs, cafés, producers, new businesses and service stars throughout the county. Since launching in 2022 they have attracted more than 5,000 business entries and nominations.
Free to enter and judged by an independent panel of industry experts the 2027 Cumbria Food Awards will open on 12 November.
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The TV chef and Hairy Biker Dave Myers said the county’s food and drink stars are “simply the best” as he hosted the first Cumbria Food Awards 2022.
Dave was at Kendal College for the event when some of the county’s best-known chefs, restaurateurs and business owners were recognised.
He told the audience that as a proud Cumbrian, it was brilliant to be part of so much success. Achievements such as Michelin stars fed down to the whole industry, including producers.
“In Cumbria, the world is already our cockle,” he joked. “I love being part of this, I’m proud to be the Cumbrian bloke who cooks on the telly.”
He added that he’d been “overwhelmed personally” to be back in the county and to see how the industry had developed and achieved global significance.
– Jay Rayner, The Observer’s restaurant critic and a feature writer
Hospitality is one of the main sources of income for the Lake District economy. And with past students working for celebrity chefs in Michelin starred kitchens, Kendal College’s Hospitality & Catering department really does create brighter futures.
