Founder of Mowgli Street Food restaurants Nisha Katona to helm sixth annual event.
The TV chef, influencer, restaurateur and author Nisha Katona is to host the 2027 Cumbria Food Awards.
Nisha will take to the stage at the gala awards evening to announce the winners of 13 competitive awards, plus three special trophies, in front of an audience of 165 finalists, sponsors, judges and special guests.
Since their launch, the Cumbria Food Awards have attracted more than 5,000 business entries and public nominations. Held in association with headline sponsor Caterite, the awards are independent, free to enter and judged by a panel of industry experts.
Nisha said she knows Cumbria well, from frequent visits from her home on the Wirral. She has also met some of the county’s leading chefs from her judging stints on TV’s Great British Menu.
“I’m a massive fan of Simon Rogan’s L’Enclume in Cartmel and the reason I know Cumbria is because I spend so much time up there, walking and eating,” she said.
“It’s very close to my heart: it’s nice people and foodie people in the most beautiful part of the country – what’s not to like?”
Urging people to get behind the awards, she said: “It’s really hard at a time like this to find good news stories to talk about, so awards like Cumbria Food Awards are crucial.
“People forget that the reason they choose to live in certain areas or visit a certain place is because of the restaurants that are there. Restaurants are what keep the lights on in a high street, they’re what makes a place a destination, it’s the ultimate social capital.
“People need to be reminded how important restaurants are in their neighbourhood.”
She said she rarely presents award events but the opportunity to return to the county and take part in Cumbria Food Awards was unmissable: “I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to it. I do not do food awards like this but there wasn’t a doubt in my mind about this, because it’s so special.”
Nisha gave up her career as a barrister and used her savings to open her first restaurant, in Liverpool, in 2014. Since then, she has overseen the growth of Mowgli to 24 restaurants across the UK, with an ambition to create jobs and enrich lives in each location.
She has shared her business and food expertise on TV and radio and has more than 337,000 followers on her Instagram platform. She is the author of six cookery books, including The Curry Bible: The Ultimate Indian Cookbook and is the founder The Mowgli Trust charity. Nisha was made an MBE for services in the food industry.
The awards, which return to Kendal College on Thursday 18 March 2027, will include categories for the county’s best chefs, cafés, restaurants, pubs, producers, shops, service, new businesses and more. The top award is for the Dave Myers Cumbrian Food and Drink Hero.
Caterite, based at Embleton near Cockermouth, has been the headline sponsor since the awards were launched in 2022.
Its aim is to supply the finest ingredients and produce to chefs at more than 800 hospitality businesses across the North of England and South West Scotland, working directly with producers and growers. Since being acquired by the global METRO AG group, it has been undergoing a period of intense growth.
Managing director Lorcan Byrne said: “Caterite is proud to be associated with the Cumbria Food Awards which shine a light on excellence in the hospitality industry. Cumbria is a beacon for the industry and is home to some of the UK’s best restaurants, producers and innovators.
“The awards evening is a fantastic celebration and an opportunity for the industry to come together and lift each other up. We’re excited to hear about the 2027 finalists and winners.”
This year, Cumbria Food Awards are supported by an individual sponsor for the first time. The award-winning crime and thriller writer MW Craven is to sponsor the Takeaway or Street Food Trader of the Year award.
MW – Mike – Craven is a former Cumbria Food Awards judge and a lover of good food and ale. His award-winning and best-selling Cumbrian-based Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw novels feature many references to the county’s food and drink, as well as pubs, food businesses and restaurants.
The eighth novel in the series, The Killer’s Mark, was published earlier this year and his books have been translated into 31 languages.
Mike, who lives in Carlisle with his wife, Joanne, said: “I’m really happy to be the first individual to sponsor a Cumbria Food Awards category.
“My Washington Poe books are set in Cumbria and it’s fair to say that Poe is a fan of the county’s beer, coffee, pies and more, so the sponsorship feels very fitting.
“Jo and I are really looking forward to meeting friends old and new at the awards and congratulating the winners. Good luck to everyone who enters.”
Kendal College, one of the country’s leading providers of hospitality training, has been the venue for the awards since their launch. Students will cook and serve canapés and the street food-style awards dinner.
Reeds provides printed materials for the awards; media partner is breaking news website Cumbria Crack and Simon Rogan is the event’s patron. Independent northern grocer Booths is again supporting the event by supplying the ingredients for canapés to be served at the event’s networking reception and by sponsoring a category. The Cumberland is Associate Sponsor.
Cumbria Food Awards are organised by Michaela Robinson-Tate and Harry Atkinson.
Entries for the awards will open in November. Sign up to our mailing list for details direct to your inbox.
Cumbria Food Awards Sponsors and Supporters
Booths
The Cumberland
Cumbria Crack
Kendal College
Academy by Simon Rogan
Business Finance Cumbria
Grapevine
Hawkshead Relish
Herdwick Cottages
Lamont Pridmore
More? The Artisan Bakery
MW Craven
Plain Creative
Reeds
Thomson Hayton Winkley
Westmorland Farmshop