Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards

Nominate now in the 2018 Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards

29th May 2018

Nominations are now open for the sixth annual Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards.

The town’s thriving food and drink sector will once again be celebrated by awards organiser, Destination Chesterfield. It is now urging people to nominate their favourite restaurants, bars, cafes, pubs and tearooms across 10 categories.

And it’s not just businesses you can nominate in the 2018 awards. Apprentices and apprenticeships are also being recognised this year with the introduction of two brand new categories – Apprentice of the Year and Apprentice Employer of the Year.

Nominations across 10 categories can be made online until midnight on Monday 11th June 2018 at www.chesterfield.co.uk/foodanddrinkawards.

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield is now urging people to get nominating. He said: “Each year we get more and more nominations proving that we’re a town that appreciates good food and customer service. There are so many fantastic businesses and people working within them in the town. For them to have a chance of taking home one of the prestigious awards, they have to be nominated – their future is in your hands.”

“I hope the people of Chesterfield get behind us once again and nominate to help make the 2018 Food and Drink Awards 2018 the best yet.”

Once again, The Chesterfield College Group is the headline sponsor of the prestigious awards and will also be hosting the glittering awards ceremony in its Heart Space building later this year.

Julie Richards, Principal and Chief Executive of the Chesterfield College Group said: “It is fantastic to be able to support this annual celebration of the best of our local food and drink industry once again this year. The event highlights local talent in the industry at the same time as giving our catering and hospitality students some amazing opportunities to showcase their talent. I look forward to welcoming the shortlisted nominees to Chesterfield College in October.”

Nominations can be made across 10 categories in the 2018 Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards include:

Restaurant of the Year – sponsored by Chesterfield Borough Council
Café/Tea Room of the Year – sponsored by Kier Group
Gastro Pub of the Year
Pub / Bar of the Year – sponsored by Banner Jones Solicitors
Best Newcomer – sponsored by BHP Chartered Accountants
Best Customer Service – sponsored by East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire)
Best Out of Town (within 10 miles of Chesterfield) – sponsored by Shorts Chartered Accountants
International Restaurant of the Year – sponsored by MSE Hiller
Family Friendly Award – sponsored by Jumble Creative Design
Food Producer of the Year

Other supporters of the awards include the Apprentice Town initiative led by Chesterfield Borough Council, Casa Hotel, Derbyshire Times, Elder Way (Jomast), Owen Taylor & Sons, Peak FM and Reflections.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

Get in the groove for new festival in Chesterfield

8th May 2018

Residents and visitors are encouraged to head to Chesterfield’s market for a brand new food and music festival this month.

The Street Food and Grooves festival, organised by Edge Events and supported by Chesterfield Borough Council, begins with a launch party on Friday 11 May from 6pm and continues over the weekend.

Edge Events organises the popular Chesterfield Food Festival held in Queen’s Park which returns on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 August this year.

Taking place in New Square, the Street Food and Grooves Festival will feature some of the finest local produce including world street food including vegetarian and vegan dishes, sweet treats, ales, bespoke gin and vodka, prosecco and a selection of wines.

On Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 May from 11am, some of the region’s talented musicians will give live performances to suit every musical taste playing live from the Sound Bites Stage’

Councillor Steve Brunt, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “This festival is a really exciting opportunity for people to visit our historic market and try some of the world’s most popular street foods and hear talented local musicians.

“One of our top priorities is to make Chesterfield a thriving borough.As with the recent successful Chesterfield Wheel ride, this new festival is an example of how we are working in partnership with the private sector to add exciting new events to the calendar.

“We are sure it will prove a real draw and encourage more people to come into the town centre to support our fantastic local shops, market traders, bars and restaurants.”

Chesterfield residents can use their residents’ parking pass to park free all day on Sunday 13 May.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

Nominate your favourite store in the 2018 Chesterfield Retail Awards

5th March 2018

The search is on to find Chesterfield’s top shops and traders in the annual 2018 Retail Awards.

Shoppers are invited to vote for their favourite retailers and market stall holders in Chesterfield town centre, on Whittington Moor, Chatsworth Road, Staveley and across the borough until midnight on Sunday 25 March 2018.

Everyone who nominates will be entered into a draw to win two tickets to the black-tie Chesterfield Retail Awards in the heart of Chesterfield on 13 June.

Now in its fifth year, the Chesterfield Retail Awards, which are organised by Destination Chesterfield, celebrate the town’s flourishing retail scene.

Chesterfield has a fantastic selection of both independent and major high street stores and its historic market attracts thousands of visitors every year.

In 2016 Chesterfield was identified as one of the UK’s top retail hotspots, highlighting it as an area of potential for investors. Hot on the heels of the report, in 2017 the town welcomed several new businesses including TJ Hughes, Patisserie Valerie and Trespass.

With so many developments underway, including the transformation of the former Co-op store and the creation of Northern Gateway, there’s no better time to recognise and honour the retailers who make the town so special.

Shoppers can nominate across 12 categories in the awards and a panel of professionals will select the winners with the ultimate accolade Retailer of the Year, being selected from the winners of the categories.

Nominations can be for any kind of retailer. It might be a shop, a bakers, a butchers, a market stall, beauty salon or crafter, as long as they trade within the borough of Chesterfield.

Members of the public can place their votes online at www.chesterfield.co.uk/retailawards/nominate until midnight on Sunday 25 March 2018.

The categories open for nominations in the 2018 Chesterfield Retail Awards include:

Hair and Beauty Business of the Year
Fashion and Footwear Retailer of the Year
Jewellery and Accessories Retailer of the Year
Home and Gifts Retailer of the Year
Food and Drink Retailer of the Year
Leisure Retailer of the Year (Sports, Hobbies, Crafts or Outdoor)
Market Trader of the Year
Independent Retailer of the Year
National/ Multiple Retailer of the Year
Market Hall Business of the Year
Excellence in Customer Service

New to this year’s ceremony will be the chance to commend the work of apprentice retail workers and employers of apprentices in the Apprentice of the Year and Apprentice Employer of the Year categories. Applications for these two new awards will open over the next few weeks. The winners of the 2018 Chesterfield Retail Awards will be announced at the black-tie awards ceremony at the Winding Wheel on Wednesday 13 June.

In 2018 The Pavements Shopping Centre will also present a trophy to recognise the Best Retailer in the Pavements Shopping Centre voted by shoppers. All eligible businesses nominated for the Chesterfield Retail Awards will automatically be put forward for this accolade.

Dom Stevens, Destination Chesterfield Manager, said: “The Chesterfield Retail Awards is an excellent opportunity for people to recognise outstanding retailers based in and around Chesterfield; both big and small as well as people and businesses within the sector that are going the extra mile in the realms of customer service and innovation.”

Supporters of the 2018 Chesterfield Retail Awards include: Apprentice Town, Chesterfield Borough Council, Derbyshire Times, eBusiness Works, East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire), Jumble Creative Design, Learning Unlimited (The Chesterfield College Group), Peak FM, Temple Safety, The Pavements Shopping Centre and the University of Derby.

For more information about the awards, visit www.chesterfield.co.uk/retailawards

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Leisure, Visiting

Annual Celebrate Chesterfield event to announce future plans for town

7th February 2018

The latest developments for Chesterfield’s £320million Waterside scheme will be unveiled at the annual Celebrate Chesterfield event on Thursday 22 March 2018.

Peter Swallow, Managing Director of Bolsterstone Plc, the company behind the scheme, will reveal at the free business breakfast event how the ambitious regeneration project – one of the largest in the UK – will take a major step forward this year.

The programme aims to create a thriving new community with homes, offices, shops, bars and restaurants surrounding a new canal basin.

Peter will also be joined by Huw Bowen, Chief Executive of Chesterfield Borough Council, who will update on the progress the town is making as a whole.

Celebrate Chesterfield, now in its sixth year and organised by Destination Chesterfield, is one of the biggest business events in the region. More than 300 delegates are expected to attend at the Winding Wheel this year.

Dom Stevens, Destination Chesterfield Manager, said: “We are a town on the up and we have a lot to be proud of. Celebrate Chesterfield is a fantastic opportunity for the local business community to come together and toast achievements from the past 12 months and look forward to what is coming up during 2018 and beyond.

“Last year’s event was a complete sell-out and we expect this year to be even more successful.”

Delegates can listen to case studies from growing local businesses, hear updates on some of the exciting plans in store for the town and will have the opportunity to quiz some of the town’s business leaders.

The University of Derby is this year’s headline sponsor with Central Technology and Markham Vale as associate sponsors.

Dr Paula Holt, Pro Vice Chancellor and Dean, College of Health and Social Care, said: “The University of Derby is proud to sponsor the Celebrate Chesterfield event once again in 2018.

“We remain committed to making a difference to Chesterfield and its population, growing our involvement in social and community projects to promote health and wellbeing. We have seen a significant increase in students at our Chesterfield Campus, particularly in adult and mental health nursing, giving more local people the opportunity to progress their careers. It is a joy to see the old girls’ school which has been restored sympathetically, but with state-of-the-art facilities, thriving as a vibrant educational centre of excellence. We are seeing occupation of our incubation space, and we are committed to supporting local businesses through innovation and creativity in areas such as health technology and product development, as well as working together to develop higher, degree and masters level apprenticeships.”

Richard Thompson, Sales and Marketing Director at Central Technology, added: “Supporting Destination Chesterfield is of huge importance to us. Having been established and working in Chesterfield, with year on year growth for over 15 years, we seek to employ local talent and work with local mid-market organisations that require IT support and critical data and security protection.

“2018 is a big year for Central Technology as we move to a fully fitted 11,000 sq ft office later this spring to accommodate our growth and provide more opportunities for jobs in the area.

“With a key focus on staff training and development, we will have dedicated training facilities and test labs for technical learning time. By attracting excellent technicians and developing our local apprenticeship scheme, we will be able to continue to provide the excellent service our customers expect.

“The event is a great opportunity for us to meet and work with like-minded mid-market organisations that are keen to grow business in Chesterfield and make it a great location to both work and live.”

Destination Chesterfield was launched in 2010 to improve the economic prosperity of the town through a campaign to promote Chesterfield.

Over the past eight years it has brought together the business community as Chesterfield Champions to market the town, drive investment and bring it to the attention of national investors.

Celebrate Chesterfield is part of its campaign to make the town a “modern destination.” Tickets for the breakfast event, which is being held from 7.30am to 11am, are available to book now. Limited exhibition spaces for businesses to showcase their work are also available.

To book your ticket at the event, or reserve exhibition space, please visit http://www.chesterfield.co.uk/celebrate/

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Destination Chesterfield, Development

New street food and live music festival set for Chesterfield

8th January 2018

The Street Food and Grooves Festival, which will be held in New Square, will have a range of stalls selling world street food, ales, bespoke gin and vodka, prosecco and a selection of wines.

Organised by Chesterfield based Edge Events the festival takes place from the 11th – 13th May.

There is expected to be an eclectic delight of street food traders showcasing their cuisines from around the world including vegan and vegetarian dishes. There will also be cold foods which will include cheeses, pickles & preserves, baked goods and sweets washed down with a variety of bespoke alcoholic and non-alcoholic based drinks.

Alongside the food, performers will be playing live music from 11am – 11pm in a festival style marquee. A full programme of performers will be announced in early 2018, but guests can expect music to suit every musical pallet from acoustic artists, original songwriters and full cover bands from across the region.

For a seasoned dancer or someone wanting to try their hands at something new Eat, Move and Groove will be taking place in the Assembly Rooms. Guests can enjoy free entry to dance demonstrations. yoga, fitness classes, workshops and social dancing.

Laura Ashby, Co-organiser and Creator of Edge Events, states:-

“We love to visit markets around Europe and we hope to bring a bit of what we have seen back to Chesterfield.”

“Times are changing and we wanted to create something that was modern and will bring people into the town. We feel that in today’s climate events like this are becoming more and more important to sustain the local economy”

The Street Food and Grooves Festival joins Edge Events growing programme of events in the town as the Chesterfield Food and Drink Festival returns to town for a second year between the 4th-5th August.

Posted in Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Leisure, Uncategorised

Blu Bistro named as Chesterfield’s top restaurant

26th October 2017

Chatsworth Road’s Blu Bistro & Coffee House has been named as Chesterfield’s Restaurant of the Year at the town’s 2017 Food and Drink Awards.

Blu has been shortlisted for the prestigious award four years running, however 2017 has seen the family-owned restaurant finally take the top title in the annual competition which is organised by Destination Chesterfield.

Blu was one of 12 bars, restaurants, food producers, cafes and individuals to scoop an accolade across 13 categories in this year’s Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards 2017.

Judges described Blu as a ‘hidden gem’ which far exceeded their expectations. They added: “From the minute we were greeted to the end of the evening the whole experience was a sheer delight. A truly exciting, gastronomic journey. The cooking techniques were outstanding, as were the combinations of flavours.”

One of Chesterfield’s newest bars, Bottle & Thyme, which opened its doors in December last year, celebrated its first year in business with a double award win on the night, scooping the titles of Best Newcomer and Best Customer Service.

Delhi 41, based on Sheffield Road on Whittington Moor, also celebrated multiple success on the night when it retained the International Restaurant of the Year title for a record four consecutive years. Since the category was introduced to the awards line up in 2014, Delhi 41 has won every single year. Matlock-based restaurant Stones, also retained its title of Best Out of Town for the second consecutive year.

Celebrity baker and couture cake maker to royalty and the A List, Mich Turner MBE hosted the awards ceremony, which was held on Wednesday 25 October at Chesterfield College’s Heart Space Building.

More than 250 people attended what has become the biggest night of the year for Chesterfield’s food and drink community. Held in association with The Chesterfield College Group, the awards are designed to also be a hands-on learning experience for the College’s hospitality students who both prepare the two course menu and serve at the sell-out event each year.

Julie Richards, Principal of Chesterfield College said: “Congratulations to everyone who was nominated as a finalist for the Food and Drink Awards this year and well done to all the winners. It is an honour for the college to play such a big part in this celebration of the local food and drink industry. It is a highlight in our calendar, providing a fantastic opportunity to showcase the college’s catering and hospitality department and to develop the skills of the students who take part in the preparation of the food and the hospitality for the evening.”

Organiser of the awards Dominic Stevens, Destination Chesterfield Manager, said: “Once again the Food and Drink Awards were a runaway success with more new names appearing in the winners roll alongside established names. This is a reflection of how the town’s food and drink scene is both growing and evolving, catering for everyone’s tastes, and mirroring the development of Chesterfield as a whole.”

The winners of the 2017 Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards are:

Restaurant of the Year – sponsored by Chesterfield Borough Council

Blu Bistro & Coffee House

Adam Warwick, Head Chef at Blu Bistro & Coffee House: “We’ve been nominated four years running so to finally win is incredible. Teamwork is the key. Everything we do, all 15 of us, we do together. We work as a team and it’s paid off… finally.”

Café and Tea Room of the Year – sponsored by Custom Solar

The Lilypad Café and Restaurant

Emily Chapman, owner of The Lilypad Café and Restaurant, said; “It’s amazing to win. It feels incredible – especially after winning Best Newcomer of the Year in 2016. Never being boring and keeping ahead is the key to success.”

Gastro Pub of the Year – sponsored by arvato

The Market Pub

Demi McLuskey, Manager of The Market Pub, said: “There are seven chefs at the Market Pub who are led by head chef Tracey. We all work closely together which is important in such a small kitchen. We love what we do and we’re all massive foodies; which all helps!”

Pub/Bar of the Year – sponsored by Banner Jones Solicitors

Junction Bar

Michael Walker, Owner of Junction Bar, said: “It’s an amazing achievement ahead of our first birthday in November. Chatsworth Road is on the up and we wanted to introduce a premium bar alongside the real ale offering in the area and it is working very well.”

Chesterfield’s Best Newcomer – sponsored by BHP Chartered Accountants

Bottle & Thyme

Gavin Grainger, joint owner of Bottle & Thyme, said: “It’s a small, family run business; even our parents are involved. Our main focus is on creating a positive, happy environment for people to come and have a good time – that’s why we have focused on customer service in our first year of opening. We hope we’ve brought something different to Chesterfield’s nightlife. We want to appeal to to a range of ages with our cocktails and live music.”

Best Customer Service – sponsored by East Midlands Chamber

Bottle & Thyme

Best Out of Town – sponsored by Shorts Chartered Accountants

Stones Restaurant, Matlock

Kevin Stone, Owner of Stones Restaurant said: “We’re striving to do even better and give our guests the best experience. We’re a family run business that is small, approachable and we have amazing food that keeps people coming through the door.”

Chesterfield Food Producer of the Year – presented by The Chesterfield College Group

Teresa Lambarelli’s

Teresa Lambarelli, owner of Teresa Lambarelli’s said: “It’s fantastic to have a hat trick of wins. Started by my father more than 40 years ago, we were the first pizzeria in Chesterfield. Now we make and supply pasta sauces throughout the UK and have just opened a pasta and prosecco bar on Chatsworth Road. I enjoy what I do and I have loyal customers that return to me time and time again. I have a great team who are helping me succeed and I wouldn’t be achieving such a level of success without them all.”

Young Chef of the Year – sponsored by The Parish Church of St. Mary and All Saints

Hannah Turner

“The cook off was really intense! Although it went much better than I thought it would and I think that’s the best I have ever done with the dish. I love getting to know different recipes and learning different methods. That’s how I decided on my menu for the judges. I knew it would be fun to make and I would get to try out new techniques.”

International Restaurant of the Year – sponsored by MSE Hiller

Delhi 41

Azmular Rahman, Manager of Delhi 41 said: “Every year we look forward to the competition to make sure we’re doing the right thing. The Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards are the benchmark of our success to ensure we’re continuing to do things well.“

Family Friendly – sponsored by Jumble Creative Design

Chesters Restaurant and Takeaway

Chris Ioannides, owner of Chesters Restaurant and Takeaway, said: “We’re a family based restaurant and are very proud to win the award. We concentrate on making families and kids feel welcome and try to make it a place where adults can enjoy a drink and children can enjoy playing.”

Conference and Banqueting – sponsored by Mitchells Chartered Accountants and

Casa Hotel Business Advisers

Adam Yeomans, Casa Conferencing and Banqueting Supervisor, said: “I am delighted to win the award. Most of the success comes from behind the scenes and being attentive to the guests.”

Food Hero – sponsored by Casa Hotel

Paul Maude, Career Pathway Leader Hospitality and Catering at Chesterfield College Chesterfield College.

On winning his award Paul Maude, whose career has spanned nearly 40 years, said: “It’s a great honour to train the next generation of chefs and see them succeed and qualify. I am emotional and honoured to win the award.”

Other supporters of the awards include the Derbyshire Times, Peak FM, Sheffield City Region Growth Hub, City Taxis, Owen Taylor & Sons, ra Information Systems, Franklin and Sons Ltd, Addooco, Steve Faulkner and Reflections.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Leisure

2017 Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards declared a sell out for fifth year running

5th October 2017

Chesterfield’s popular Food and Drink Awards ceremony has, for the fifth year running, been declared a sell-out.

More than 250 guests, including the town’s restaurateurs, food producers, publicans and chefs, will come together to celebrate the success of the town’s food and drink industry.

The glittering awards ceremony, which will take place on Wednesday 25 October at Chesterfield College’s Heart Space Building, will be hosted by the ‘Queen of Couture Cakes’ Mich Turner MBE. She is renowned for her award winning cake creations, creating masterpieces for the likes of David Beckham, Gordon Ramsey, Madonna and even Her Majesty The Queen.

Mich will announce the winners of 13 categories at the awards, including the Food Hero of the Year award which recognises a local business or individual who has made an impact on the local food scene.

A total of 29 businesses have been shortlisted across 13 categories, with Casa Hotel, Junction Bar, Bottle and Thyme and The Lilypad Café being nominated across multiple categories. Cocina at Casa Hotel has once again been nominated for the coveted Restaurant of the Year 2017 title and hopes to retain it for a third year running.

The glitzy black tie event night will be fully catered and hosted by the college’s staff and catering and hospitality students enabling them to gain real world experience in their chosen career.

Dom Stevens, Destination Chesterfield Manager, commented:-

“Chesterfield’s food and drink scene is getting bigger and better by the day, with new bars and restaurants opening regularly. Each year the awards sell out faster than the previous year and 2017 has been no exception. The Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards are a great way to celebrate Chesterfield and its thriving hospitality scene. The awards are a highlight of the year for the sector and promise to be a great night.”

The finalists in each category are:

Restaurant of the Year – sponsored by Chesterfield Borough Council

Blu Bistro & Coffee House
Cocina at Casa Hotel
Lombardi’s

Café/Tea Room of the Year – sponsored by Custom Solar

H&F Vintage Tea Rooms
The Lilypad Café & Restaurant
Stephenson’s Tea and Coffee House

Gastro Pub of the Year – sponsored by arvato

Chandlers
The Market Pub
The Rectory

Pub / Bar of the Year – sponsored by Banner Jones Solicitors

Einstein’s
Junction Bar
The Rose & Crown, Brampton

Best Newcomer – sponsored by BHP Accountants

Bottle and Thyme
Odyssey Greek Restaurant
The Spire by Stephenson’s

Best Customer Service – sponsored by East Midlands Chamber

Bottle and Thyme
Junction Bar
The Lilypad Café & Restaurant

Best Out of Town (within 10 miles of Chesterfield) – sponsored by Shorts Chartered Accountants

The Bateman’s Mill Hotel, Old Tupton
Hotel Van Dyk, Clowne
Stones Restaurant, Matlock

International Restaurant of the Year – sponsored by MSE Hiller

Delhi 41
Nonnas
O-Tokuda

Family Friendly Award – sponsored by Jumble Creative Design

Chesters
The Little Castle
The Manor at Brampton

Conference Venue of the Year – sponsored by Mitchells Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers

Casa Hotel
Peak Edge Hotel
Proact Stadium

Food Producer of the Year – presented by Chesterfield College

Granny Mary’s Original Recipes
Northern Tea Merchants
Teresa Lambarelli’s

Other supporters of the awards include the Derbyshire Times, Peak FM, The Parish Church of St Mary & All Saints, Casa Hotel, Owen Taylor & Sons, ra Information Systems, Black Eyed Susan, Franklin and Sons Ltd, City Taxis, Sheffield City Region Growth Hub, Addooco, Steve Faulkner and Reflections.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards

Chesterfield’s young chefs shortlisted in 2017 Food and Drink Awards

19th September 2017

Three Chesterfield College students have been shortlisted for the title of Young Chef of the Year in the 2017 Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards.

Rhoda Malova (19) from New Whittington, Eben Mellor (18) from Wingerworth, and Hannah Turner (17) from Chesterfield are all hoping to be named Chesterfield’s top young chef at next month’s awards ceremony which is organised by Destination Chesterfield.

The award, which is sponsored by The Parish Church of St. Mary and All Saints recognises Chesterfield College’s most promising Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Professional Cookery course student. A former winner of the prestigious title includes James Greatorex, who is employed at Heston Blumenthal’s Berkshire restaurant, The Fat Duck, a three Michelin-starred restaurant and recognised as one of the best restaurants in the world.

Hosted by celebrity cake designer Mich Turner, the Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards are now in their fifth year, and more popular than ever with 32 business and individuals going head to head for 13 titles.

As part of the competition, Rhoda, Eben and Hannah took part in a live cook-off, which involved them preparing a two-course meal for judges Adam Warwick, Head Chef from Blu Bistro, Jamie Taylor, Head Chef at Nonnas and Colin McKenna of award sponsor The Parish Church of St. Mary and All Saints. Judges were looking for technical and presentation skills as well as the combination of flavours the young chefs created in their dishes.

Rhoda prepared pan-fried salmon with peas and chorizo and a white wine cream sauce followed by a passion fruit and white chocolate cheesecake. She commented:-

“A tutor suggested I entered the competition. I was extremely happy to find I made the final three and was able to cook for the judges. I was really nervous as time approached but once I started preparing the food I felt much calmer. My main goal after completing my level 3 would be to gain a wide range of experience in the industry and then hopefully open my own family-run restaurant.”

Eben prepared roast smoked garlic chicken breast with a burnt leek puree, mushrooms and asparagus and a lemon and passion fruit cheesecake. He said:-

“I really enjoyed cooking the meal for the judges and I thought it went very well. I’m inspired by my Dad who’s always cooked and I used to love helping out. Cooking is a real passion of mine; it allows me to be creative and be myself and people always like what I prepare, so that’s very rewarding.”

Hannah prepared a visually stunning roast rump of lamb with parsley crushed potatoes and lavender with a salted caramel chocolate tart to finish. She said:-

Colin McKenna, Judge and award sponsor, commented:-

“We all enjoyed the food that we were presented with and if we were restaurant customers we would be proud to pay for any of the dishes we tasted. It was fantastic to see three young people doing such great work. The Church encourages young people on their way through life and the Young Chef of the Year Award is a great foundation for any young chef’s future career.”

Ian Matthews, Hospitality and Catering Tutor at Chesterfield College, said:-

“The students worked really hard in the run up to and during the competition to create some fantastic dishes. I am very proud of them all. It is a fantastic experience to cook under competition conditions for experienced chefs and discerning customers. It prepares the students for the pressures of working in the industry and gives them the opportunity to practice key skills which will make them stand out to employers in the future.”

The winner of the 2017 Young Chef of the Year will be announced at the Chesterfield Food and Drinks Awards at Chesterfield College’s Heart Space building on Wednesday 25th October.

Supporters of the awards include Addooco, Arvato, Banner Jones Solicitors, BHP Accountants, Black Eyed Susan, Casa, Chesterfield Borough Council, City Taxis, Custom Solar, Derbyshire Times, East Midlands Chamber, Franklin & Sons, Mitchells Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers, Jumble Design, MSE Hiller, Owen Taylor & Sons, Peak FM, Sheffield City Region Growth Hub, Steve Faulkner, Shorts Accountants, ra Information Systems and Reflections.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards

New retail, restaurant and office development planned for Chesterfield

11th September 2017

A planning application has been submitted to Chesterfield Borough Council for a new mixed use development comprising of retail, bar and restaurants , business centre and car parking.

The Glass Yard if approved will be built on the former fire station site on Sheffield Road and will create a space where you can work, eat, meet and collaborate.

The Glass Yard hopes to create an innovative workspace for new and growing businesses in Chesterfield and the surrounding areas.

There are plans for eighteen three-storey office spaces which can be combined to accommodate any sized business and two larger showroom spaces facing the road.

The Batch House is inspired by artisan food and retail halls found around central Europe, such as Barcelona, Lisbon, Florence and Rome. The ground floor is proposed to be occupied by artisan food producers and suppliers, restaurants, cafes and retail units.

The developers already have interest from several high-profile chefs to create restaurant spaces and are looking for more to join them.

The application will now be considered by Chesterfield Borough Council’s Planning Committee.

Find out about other regeneration projects in Chesterfield

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Development

Chesterfield Food Producer shortlisted as Pig Farmer of the Year

25th July 2017

Chesterfield Food Producer, Moss Valley Fine Meats, have recently been announced as finalist in the ‘Pig Farmer of the Year’ category for the Farmers Weekly Awards 2017.

Top technical performance was the common theme across all three finalists this year, which ranged from the largest pig producer in the country to a family-run farrow-to finish farm marketing their own produce. They stand against GSK Pigs in Norfolk and British Quality Pigs in Suffolk.

Stephen and Karen Thompson of Moss Valley Fine Meats, produce pork, bacon, ham and sausages in their own butchery from pigs bred and reared on their farm in the beautiful Moss Valley on the edge of Sheffield.

A rare little gem is how you could describe the family-run Moss Valley Fine Meats, which is home to 200 sows and is producing about 6,000 pigs a year. They have also recently gain planning permission to triple the size of the butchery with a LEADER application being undertaken for EU funding. This will allow the farm to expand across the country and hopefully internationally.

Moss Valley have developed a brand that is well-known with top chefs and at farmers markets in the Sheffield area; supplying around 70 restaurants, delis and shops in the local area. They have also been approached to supply large volumes of sausage for a schools contract.

A representative from the Farmers Weekly said about the farm:-

“A smaller-scale, family-run pig operation makes Moss Valley Meats really quite rare in the industry today. They have built a brand that is well known in the Sheffield area, has excellent performance and is carbon neutral.”

The winner of the awards will be announced in a black tie awards ceremony held at The Grosvenor House Hotel in London’s Mayfair in October.

Alongside being shortlisted for such a prestigious national title, Moss Valley are also celebrating being shorlisted as finalists in the first ever English SME Business Awards 2017.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards

Chesterfield’s Food Producer of the Year finalists announced

24th July 2017

After much deliberating, cogitating and digesting, the finalists for the Chesterfield Food Producer of the Year title, which is presented by Chesterfield College, have been selected.

Nine nominated food and drink producers dished up a selection of treats to Chesterfield Champions at a special tasting event held at Chesterfield College recently. Following scoring, the top three producers have been selected – Granny Mary’s Original Recipes, Northern Tea Merchants and Teresa Lambarelli’s.

The finalists will now battle it out for the overall title of Food producer of the Year at the 2017 Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards. Granny Mary’s Original Recipes, Northern Tea Merchants and Teresa Lambarelli’s are three of a total of 29 businesses that have been shortlisted across 13 categories in the fourth annual awards.

Organised by Destination Chesterfield, and sponsored by Chesterfield College, the prestigious awards recognise the very best food, drinks, service and venues in the town’s growing hospitality sector.

The winners of all the categories will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony, hosted by celebrity cake maker to the A List Mich Turner MBE, which is being held at Chesterfield College’s Heart Space building in October later this year.

Dom Stevens, Destination Chesterfield Manager, said:-

“As ever the task of choosing just three finalists was incredibly difficult for our judging panel. They had a huge variety of food and drink to sample, from tea and real ale to sausages, cakes, potted meats and pasta sauces, reflecting the growth and diversity of Chesterfield’s food and drink scene.

“The awards are now in their fifth year and more popular than ever. Each year it gets more and more difficult to narrow the nominations down to just three finalists.”

Details of all finalists in the 2017 Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards can be found at http://www.chesterfield.co.uk/foodanddrinkawards

Other supporters of the awards include the Derbyshire Times, Peak FM, the Crooked Spire Church, Casa Hotel, Owen Taylor & Sons, ra Information Systems, Black Eyed Susan, Franklin and Sons Ltd, Addooco, Steve Faulkner and Reflections.

Category sponsors at the awards also include Chesterfield Borough Council, Custom Solar Ltd, arvato, Banner Jones Solicitors, BHP Accountants, East Midlands Chamber, Shorts Accountants, Chesterfield College, MSE Hiller, Jumble Design and Mitchells Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards