Oct 23
Wales the True Taste Food & Drink Awards 2011-12
posted by: Gomez in Events on Oct 23rd, 2011 | |

I was very lucky this week to be invited to attend the 10th Anniversary Wales the True Taste Food & Drink Awards 2011-12, in Llandudno.

Over the next week or so I'll be posting some of my experiences of the event itself, and conversations with some of the producers I was lucky enough to meet. Some of them have been kind enough to extend open invitations to go visit and hopefully these will turn themselves into a series of posts showcasing them and their products.

In the meantime I'm going to start you off with a quick post and a list of winners from information kindly supplied by Johara and Mathura from Four bgb, who kindly invited me along to the event.

Wales the True Taste Food and Drink Awards 2011/12

Held at Venue Cymru in Llandudno, the 2011-12 Wales the True Taste Food and Drink Awards ceremony showcased and rewarded some of the best and most innovative food and drink products from Wales, and recognised excellence in the retail and hospitality sectors. This year there were some 1,017 entries from 366 companies large and small.

The 10th anniversary Awards ceremony was hosted by BBC Wales presenter, Jason Mohammed, and S4C presenter Heledd Cynwal.The Awards were held in association with leading organic dairy, Aberystwyth based Rachel’s.
 
Rachel Rowlands, who founded the company with her husband Gareth, was named True Taste Ambassador at the inaugural Awards.
 
Said Rachel Rowlands, “The True Taste Awards are something very close to us, we have seen them grow to become among the most prized and prestigious food and drink awards in the UK; and I wish all this year’s winners every future success.

Among the evening’s top awards was the Product of the Year trophy, which went to Emma and Mark Baravelli for their tangy Lemon Marmalade with Brecon Welsh Gin. The couple, who run The Little Deli in Llandudno, also received trophies for their Vanilla Salted Caramels, and their Raspberry Ripple Dairy Ice Cream.
 
The 2011-12 True Taste Champion is Conrad Davies, Managing Director of the Eurospar stores in Dolgellau and Blaenau Ffestiniog, and the Spar store in Pwllheli. The fifth generation of his family to be involved in the retail trade, Conrad is an ardent supporter of local and Welsh produce and stocks a wide range of produce in his store.

Conrad Davies of Eurospar the 2011 True Taste Champion
WALES THE TRUE TASTE FOOD & DRINK AWARDS WINNERS 2011-12
 
LAMB
 
GOLD
Cig Mynydd Cymru – Rack of Welsh Lamb
 
SILVER
Graig Farm Organics – Organic Sirloin of Lamb
 
BRONZE
Welsh Venison Centre – Rack of Welsh Lamb
 
BEEF
 
GOLD
Cwmcerrig Farm Shop and Grill – Sirloin Steak
 
SILVER
Castell Howell Foods Ltd – Bone In 711g Welsh Beef Rib Eye Steak
 
BRONZE
Ifor's Welsh Wagyu – Quick Fry Steak (Rump Tail)
 
PORK
 
GOLD
Dawn Meats (UK) Ltd – Pork Belly Joint with Smoky Barbecue Glaze
 
SILVER
Welsh Venison Centre – Welsh Belly of Pork
 
BRONZE
Rob Rattray Butchers – Sweet Cured Bacon
 
POULTRY & GAME
 
GOLD
Hooton's Homegrown – Free Range Chicken Breast
 
SILVER
Bethesda Farm and Coffee Shop – Garlic and Smoked Bacon
 
BRONZE
Blas ar Fwyd Cyf – Chicken and Welsh Ale Soup
 
OTHER ADDED VALUE MEAT PRODUCTS
 
GOLD
Edwards of Conwy – Pork, Black Pudding and Egg Pie
 
SILVER
Trealy Farm Charcuterie – Beech-Smoked Air-Dried Ham
 
BRONZE
Cnwd – Pork and Pistachio Terrine
 
BURGERS & SAUSAGES
 
GOLD
Gorno's Speciality Foods Ltd – Spicy Chorizo Sausage
 
SILVER
Saloni – Saloni Chorizo
 
BRONZE
Castell Howell Foods Ltd – Gourmet Welsh Pork with Honey and Mustard Burger
 
MILK, YOGURT, BUTTER & CREAM – SMALL PRODUCER
 
GOLD
Sanclêr Organic – Melys Strained Yogurt with Seville Oranges
 
SILVER
Ty Tanglwyst Dairy – Fresh Whole Milk
 
BRONZE
Derimon Smokery Ltd – Welsh Oak Smoked Welsh Butter
 
CHEESE – SMALL PRODUCER
 
GOLD
Holden Farm Dairy – Hafod Cheese
 
SILVER
Trethowan’s Dairy Limited – Gorwydd Caerphilly
 
BRONZE
Y Cwt Caws – Peli Pabo Garlic and Herb
 
ICE CREAM – SMALL PRODUCER
 
GOLD
Baravelli's – Raspberry Ripple Dairy Ice Cream
 
SILVER
Hufenfa'r Castell – Riwbob Ice Cream
 
BRONZE
The Patchwork Traditional Food Company – Vanilla Pod Ice Cream with Anglesey Sea Salted Caramel Ripple
 
MILK, YOGURT, BUTTER & CREAM – LARGE PRODUCER
 
GOLD
South Caernarfon Creameries – Dragon Welsh Salted Butter
 
SILVER
Proper Welsh Milk Company – Proper Welsh Milk
 
BRONZE
South Caernarfon Creameries – Dragon Whole Milk
 
CHEESE – LARGE PRODUCER
 
GOLD
Milk Link, Llandyrnog Creamery – Cadog Mature Welsh Cheddar
 
SILVER
First Milk – Pembrokeshire Mature
 
BRONZE
Carmarthenshire Cheese – Company Ltd
 
ICE CREAM – LARGE PRODUCER
 
GOLD
Subzero – Luxury Vanilla Dairy Ice Cream
 
SILVER
Forte's Ice Cream – Vanilla Ice Cream
 
BRONZE
Forte's Ice Cream – Clotted Cream with Peach & Raspberry
 
CAKES
 
GOLD
choc-o-art – Marbled Chocolate Orange Temptation
 
SILVER
Harvies Ltd – Raspberry and Almond Frangipane
 
BRONZE
The Village Bakery (Coedpoeth) Ltd – M&S Welsh Cakes
 
CONFECTIONERY
 
GOLD
Uncle Peter's Fudge Company – Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Fudge
 
SILVER
Cathryn Cariad Chocolates – Salted Caramels
 
BRONZE
Baravelli's – Vanilla Salted Caramel
 
OTHER BAKED GOODS
 
GOLD
Cradocs Savoury Biscuits – Perl Las Savoury Biscuits
 
SILVER
Cradocs Savoury Biscuits – Leek and Caerphilly Savoury Biscuits
 
BRONZE
La Crème Patisserie Ltd – Frangipane Mince Pies
 
NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINKS
 
GOLD
Welsh Farmhouse Apple Juice – Egremont Russet
 
SILVER
Brecon Mineral Water – Brecon Carreg Welsh Natural Mineral Water – Still
 
BRONZE
Brecon Mineral Water – Brecon Carreg Welsh Natural Mineral Water – Sparkling
 
BEER, CIDER & PERRY (UNDER 10% ABV)
 
GOLD
The Celt Experience Ltd – Celt-Golden
 
SILVER
Monty's Brewery – Sunshine
 
BRONZE
Blaengawney Cider – Hallets Real Cider
 
WINE, SPIRITS & OTHER ALCOHOL (OVER 10% ABV)
 
GOLD
Celtic Spirit Co. – Danzy Jones
 
SILVER
Condessa Welsh Liqueurs – Sloe Gin
 
BRONZE
Da Mhile Distillery – Da Mhile Orange Liquer
 
FRESH FISH & SHELLFISH
 
GOLD
Welsh Seafoods Ltd – Brill
 
SILVER
South & West Wales Fishing Communities Ltd – Welsh Wild Line Caught Sea Bass
 
BRONZE
Gill's Plaice – Cardigan Bay Silver Mullet
 
ADDED VALUE FISH & SHELLFISH
 
GOLD
Aberdaron Seafood Ltd – Dressed Crab
 
SILVER
Llandudno Smokery – Kiln Roasted Oak Smoked Salmon
 
BRONZE
Black Mountains Smokery Ltd – Traditional Smoked Salmon
 
FRUIT
 
GOLD
Stubbins Marketing – Baby Plum Tomatoes
 
SILVER
Primrose Organic Centre – Tayberries
 
BRONZE
Primrose Organic Centre – Raspberries
 
VEGETABLES
 
GOLD
Puffin Produce Ltd – Rudolph Potato
 
SILVER
Llwynhelyg Farm Shop – Folia Fragrantia
 
BRONZE
Hooton's Homegrown – Asparagus
 
CONDIMENTS, SAUCES & CHUTNEY
 
GOLD
The Anglesey Sea Salt Company – Halen Môn smoked over Welsh Oak
 
SILVER
Sarah Cooks Your Homemade Pickles and Preserves – Mediterranean Chutney
 
BRONZE
Goetre Farm Preserves – Pineapple, Red Pepper and Roasted Cumin Chutney
 
JAMS, MARMALADE & HONEY
 
GOLD
Baravelli's – Lemon Marmalade with Brecon Welsh Gin
 
SILVER
Tropical Forest Products Limited – Welsh Chunk Comb Honey
 
BRONZE
Bryn Seiriol Preserves – Lemon Curd
 
OTHER SPECIALITY FOODS
 
GOLD
Harvies Ltd – Mince Pies
 
SILVER
Pennsylvania Farm Free-Range Eggs – Free-Range Duck Eggs
 
BRONZE
The Mushroom Garden – Antipasto Shiitake Mushroom
 
HEALTHY OPTIONS
 
GOLD
Welsh Venison Centre – Venison Haunch Steak
 
SILVER
Siwgr a Sbeis Cyf – Bara Brith
 
BRONZE
Sanclêr Organic – Cottage Cheese with Garlic and Chives
 
SPECIAL DIETARY OPTIONS
 
GOLD
Homemade Country Preserves – No Added Sugar Raspberry Preserve
 
SILVER
Homemade Country Preserves – No Added Sugar Damson Preserve
 
BRONZE
Coco Bean – Classic Gluten Free Brownie
 
ORGANIC
 
GOLD
The Anglesey Sea Salt Company – Halen Môn with Organic Celery Seeds
 
SILVER
The Anglesey Sea Salt Company – Halen Môn with Organic Spices
 
BRONZE
Holden Farm Dairy – Hafod Cheese
 
WALES THE TRUE TASTE PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
 
Baravelli's – Lemon Marmalade with Brecon Welsh Gin
 
WELSH EXPORT ACHIEVEMENT
 
GOLD
Village Bakery Nutrition Ltd
 
SILVER
Capestone Organic Poultry Ltd
 
BRONZE
Randall Parker Foods
 
RETAILER OF THE YEAR DIRECT SALES
 
GOLD
Llwynhelyg Farm Shop
 
SILVER
Cwmcerrig Farm Shop and Grill
 
BRONZE
Hawarden Estate Farm Shop
 
ONLINE RETAILER
 
GOLD
Douglas Willis Ltd  www.douglaswillis.co.uk
 
SILVER
Pembrokeshire Produce Direct www.pembrokeshireproducedirect.co.uk
 
BRONZE
Gower Cottage Brownies www.gowercottagebrownies.co.uk
 
DELI/SPECIALITY STORE
 
GOLD
Ultracomida Ltd
 
SILVER
Leonardo's Delicatessen Ltd
 
BRONZE
Bradleys Deli
 
BUTCHERS
 
GOLD
Edwards of Conwy www.edwardsofconwy.co.uk
 
SILVER
Douglas Willis Ltd  www.douglaswillis.co.uk

BRONZE
T.J. Roberts & Son www.welshqualitymeat.co.uk
 
FISHMONGER
 
GOLD
Claws Shellfish
 
SILVER
Gill's Plaice
 
BRONZE
Pysgod Llŷn Seafoods & Delicatessen
 
LOCAL SOURCING INITIATIVE
 
GOLD
Llwynhelyg Farm Shop
 
SILVER
Hawarden Estate Farm Shop
 
BRONZE
The Village Bakery
 
EATING OUT IN WALES – RESTAURANTS (NO ROOMS)
 
GOLD
Cwtch www.cwtchrestaurant.co.uk
 
SILVER
Y Ffarmers www.yffarmers.co.uk
 
BRONZE
number eighteen www.number-eighteen.com
 
RESTAURANTS/HOTELS (WITH ROOMS)
 
GOLD
The Grove www.thegrove-narberth.co.uk
 
SILVER
Llansantffraed Court www.llch.co.uk
 
BRONZE
Tyddyn Llan Restaurant with Rooms www.tyddynllan.co.uk
 
CAFES & TEA-ROOMS
 
GOLD
The Award Winning Old Stables Tea Rooms www.chefontherunfoods.co.uk
 
SILVER
Caffi Florence www.caffiflorence.co.uk
 
BRONZE
The Hive www.thehiveaberaeron.com
 
CONTRIBUTION TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
 
GOLD
Primrose Organic Centre www.primroseearthcentre.co.uk
 
SILVER
Lloyds of Penlanlas www.penlanlas.co.uk
 
BRONZE
Cwmcerrig Farm Shop and Grill www.cwmcerrigfarmshop.co.uk
 
TRUE TASTE CHAMPION
 
Conrad Davies – Eurospar

2 Responses to “Wales the True Taste Food & Drink Awards 2011-12”

  1. I have really enjoyed reading this. I was invited but it was a bit too far a journey for me at the moment, next year hopefully. About to write a brief post about the Awards, will definitely direct readers to this page!

  2. […] are reading this and would like me to visit a specific True Taste Award Winner (the full list is here) then drop me their name in the comment box below and I’ll see what I can do.  […]

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