The first awards for the KM Media Group, where the public nominated their unsung food heroes and the winners were chosen by a panel of independent industry experts.
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00:00 I'm at the famous Spitfire Ground, the home of Kent cricket. But we're not here for wickets
00:07 today. We're here for this century's first Kent and Medway Food and Drink Awards. 12
00:13 categories, 12 awards up for grabs and the nominees are starting to arrive.
00:18 [Music]
00:30 Drinks flowing and anticipation bubbling for all those who have a chance of being crowned
00:37 a culinary champion at the first Kent and Medway Food and Drink Awards. The idea, to
00:45 celebrate the county's very best from right across the hospitality spectrum, including
00:50 pop-ups, chefs, restaurants, hotels and food banks. Nominated and voted for by the public,
00:58 the finalists were then picked out by industry experts. So, let the awards begin.
01:05 [Music]
01:09 These awards are born from a desire to highlight the businesses and individuals behind Kent
01:14 and Medway's famed food and drink scene, where both old favourite and start-up brands continue
01:20 not only to survive, but thrive. There is a good reason we are known around the world
01:26 as the Garden of England.
01:28 And to kick off the very first awards hosted by the KM Media Group, the award to celebrate
01:34 cooking and the community was Food Bank of the Year, going to Myers Community Support
01:40 Centre in Herne Bay.
01:41 We're dedicated to supporting brands, we know how hard it is, especially now with the
01:47 cost of income, how hard it is to get the food for people. As you know, alone, don't
01:52 suffer in silence.
01:54 Next up, the award for street food or pop-up of the year, going to Bun Buddies in Ashford,
02:01 a business born out of a love of burgers.
02:05 So Harry comes to my house and we had a few guests around and he said I'll make burgers
02:09 today and he made burgers and everyone was just sitting there biting into them like this
02:12 is the most incredible thing we've ever had, we need to do something with this. And then
02:15 I bought a truck for 12 grand and then here we are with an award now.
02:21 A nod to another small business venture at the heart of its community, the winners of
02:26 Tea Room or Coffee Shop of the Year.
02:28 And the winner I'm pleased to say is the Heart of Highwood Grants.
02:35 The couple both from Highham didn't even know they had been voted for until they saw the
02:40 nominations come out. Now on to Farm Shop or Deli of the Year.
02:44 I'm pleased to announce that the winner is Prairie Hills Farm.
02:54 Beverage Product of the Year went to Say It With Gin in Ashford.
02:57 The presentation, packaging and brothel showed much attention to detail and tied in well
02:58 with their story.
02:59 Food Producer of the Year was awarded to Lower Ladysden Farm in Goudhurst.
03:12 Food and Drink Hero was given to Mama Soraya in Medway.
03:16 And next up was the award for Kent Hospitality Champion.
03:19 The winner is Scott Larry's Mobile Bar.
03:25 This award means so much to me and I can't thank the team that I've got behind me so
03:32 much for actually winning this award. And I've only been trading for about three years.
03:36 And with more gratitude for the team behind the scenes running their business was the
03:40 winner of Hotel of the Year.
03:47 It's really grateful and it's all down to the staff. And we just opened in 2019, a couple
03:52 of months before Covid and we closed the business down and then we come up stronger and build
04:00 another restaurant. So we have two restaurants on site, only 41 bedrooms, but it's all down
04:05 to the staff this award.
04:07 Next up, Pub or Bar of the Year was taken home by the Queen's Head in Sutton Valence.
04:16 While the experts were able to choose 11 winners from the finalists, the award for Restaurant
04:21 of the Year was down to the public vote. Cabel's in Broadstairs were the fans' favourite.
04:27 It's amazing. It's the first time we've ever been nominated for anything or been put up
04:33 for anything. So this is a fantastic feeling. And the fact that we, me as an owner, I could
04:40 not have done this without our head chef, Craig. And we've got such a wonderful team
04:45 at Cabel's. It's amazing.
04:48 This is for them. So it's brilliant.
04:50 But that wasn't it for the Kent chefs. For one Tunbridge man, it took more than a trip
04:56 to the high street to secure his award.
04:58 Working with his local butcher to select the finest cuts of meat, would you believe travelling
05:03 to Madagascar to pick his very own vanilla pods?
05:07 Chef of the Year goes to Ben Beattie from Ben's Kitchen.
05:13 So that's it. 12 awards for 12 artists in their fields.
05:21 Despite lockdowns and inflation, these unsung food heroes were able to stay afloat and provide
05:28 for their communities. Also, Kent's economy can thrive under a difficult few years for
05:34 hospitality.
05:35 Abbey Hook for KMTV at the Kent and Medway Food and Drink Awards 2024.
05:43 (upbeat music)
05:45 [BLANK_AUDIO]