The Best Dorset has to offer - Food & Drink

In my humble opinion Dorset continues to grow from strength to strength. It’s been a slow burn, but over the past few years awareness of this wonderful county has grown. Celebrity Chef’s, Whittingstall and Hix, have made it there home, new and interesting hotels have sprung up and the quality of the local produce has got better and better.

On the 24 September Dorset Magazine hosted the Dorset Magazine Food, Drink & Farming Awards. This showcases the achievements of local produces and what’s more the nominations come from you the public. Here are the results;

Best Independent Food Shop of the Year
Sponsored by Ford Farm

Winner – Winfrith Village Stores, Winfrith Newburgh
Highly Commended – Symondsbury Store, Symondsbury
Highly Commended – The Fridge, Dorchester

Best Food Product / Producer of the Year
Sponsored by Bournemouth University

Winner – Chococo, Swanage
Highly Commended – From Dorset with Love, Milton Abbas
Highly Commended – South West Garlic Farm, North Chideock

Best Chef of the Year
Sponsored by Talbot Heath

Winner – Mark Hartstone, La Fosse, Cranborne
Highly Commended – Brett Sutton, The White Post, Rimpton
Highly Commended – Cass Titcombe, Brassica, Beaminster

Best Drinks Product of the Year
Sponsored by Beales Gourmet

Winner – Conker Spirit, Christchurch
Highly Commended – Black Cow Vodka, Childhay
Highly Commended – Cerne Abbas Brewery, Cerne Abbas

Best Hotel Restaurant of the Year
Sponsored by National Westchem

Winner – THE PIG on the Beach, Studland
Highly Commended – Harbour Heights Hotel, Sandbanks
Highly Commended – La Fosse, Cranborne

Best Restaurant / Dining Experience of the Year
Sponsored by Farrow & Ball

Winner – Brassica Restaurant, Beaminster
Highly Commended – Al Molo, Weymouth
Highly Commended – No 9 Restaurant, Wimborne Minster

Best Dorset Sunday Roast of the Year
Sponsored by Furleigh Estate

Winner – The White Post, Rimpton
Highly Commended – Custom House, Poole
Highly Commended – Haddon House Hotel, Bridport

Best Tearoom / Coffee Shop of the Year
Sponsored by Dorset Tea

Winner – The Courtyard Tea Rooms, Poole
Highly Commended – Oliver’s, Sherborne
Highly Commended – The Little Teapot, Poole

Best Farmers’ Market of the Year
Sponsored by Dorset Food & Drink

Winner – Bridport Farmers’ Market
Highly Commended – Dorchester Farmers’ Market
Highly Commended – Sherborne Farmers’ Market

Best Newcomer of the Year
Sponsored by Pengillys

Winner – Crab Apple Catering, Swanage
Highly Commended – Cake by Sadie Smith, Wimborne
Highly Commended – Jurassic Spring, Weymouth

Best Family Friendly Dining Experience
Sponsored by Kitchencraft

Winner – Soulshine Café, Bridport
Highly Commended – Tamburino Gold, Sherborne
Highly Commended – The Village Inn, Swanage

Best Gastro Pub of the Year
Sponsored by Orchard Park

Winner – The White Post, Rimpton
Highly Commended – The Kings Arms, Portesham
Highly Commended – The Wise Man, West Stafford

Best Butcher / Meat Producer of the Year
Sponsored by Fiona Penny at Sunflowers

Winner – Chris Watson Family Butchers, Christchurch
Highly Commended – Peter Treble Butchers, Bournemouth
Highly Commended – RJ Balson & Son, Bridport