Cllr Christian Mitchell (left) with the grand finalists Cheryl Swinburn (Pig & Jacket) Toby Harmer (Garlic Wood) judge Stephen Edwards , Ranie Sirah (Jah Jyot) Paul jacobs (Jah Jyot) and Richard Groves (Pig & Jacket)
For details contact Paula Seager
Natural PR 01273 857242
Three Sussex Street Food vendors were announced as Grand Finalists in the Sussex Food & Drink Awards 2017 at a special event held at the Carfax in Horsham yesterday [23 October], which attracted thousands of food lovers.
Garlic Wood Farm from Steyning, Jah Jyot Punjabi Street Food from Henfield and The Pig & Jacket from Lewes were declared Grand Finalists by former Masterchef: The Professionals Winner Steven Edwards, who led an expert judging panel with food journalist Andy Lynes and co-sponsors Food Rocks and Horsham District Food and Wine Festival, supported by votes from the public.
Finalists invited to participate in yesterday’s event, included smoked meats from The Little Blue Smokehouse in Crowborough; East African delights from Kitgum Kitchen in Brighton; Punjabi feast from Jah Jyot in Henfield; food for the soul from Vudu Food in Brighton; local lamb from Sussex Lamb in Shipley; delicious slow roasted meats from Forgotten Cuts in Brighton; all things pork from the Pig & Jacket in Lewes; ethical doner kebabs from last year’s winner the Troll’s Pantry in Brighton; a global feast from Boca Loco inn Arundel; and mouthwatering longhorn beef steak burgers from Garlic Wood Farm in Steyning.
Steven Edwards said, “The quality from all the street food vendors is always fantastic, but this year I thought they really raised the bar producing amazingly diverse and delicious dishes, with incredible technical skills and passion, served from eye-catching and professional stalls.”
Local employer and award-winning games developer, Creative Assembly, sponsored the Horsham People’s Choice Award, the street food vendor to receive the most public votes on the day, and the winner was Jah Jyot. Chairman of Horsham District Council, Councillor Christian Mitchell presented the award and said, “I want to thank everyone from Horsham District for coming to support the Street Food Finals. It has been great to host this amazing event here and to have all this superb food made from produce grown or reared in our district or nearby.”
The three Grand Finalists are invited to receive their trophies on 1 February 2017 at a BAFTA-style ceremony hosted by awards patron, Sally Gunnell OBE and Danny Pike from BBC Sussex. Tickets are now on sale for this very special awards ceremony, which includes a spectacular seven-course Sussex produce banquet produced by Sodexo Prestige at the Amex Stadium.
Said Hilary Knight, co-director of Natural Partnerships CIC, organisers of the awards: “This is the second Sussex Street Food of the Year competition, which we created to celebrate our tenth birthday last year and it proved so popular with the public and our brilliant Sussex street food vendors we decided to continue it as part of the annual awards this year. It certainly didn’t disappoint and the whole event has been a huge success with lots of rock music as well as sensational food.”
