Gary Rhodes Launches Search For Britain’s Local Food Hero
 It’s time to reward someone you think is helping keep British food great. UKTV Food today launches its inaugural Local Food Hero Awards, a nationwide search to discover Britain’s ultimate food champion.
Led by Gary Rhodes, the awards are a tribute to everyone who tirelessly puts great British produce onto plates, into shops and markets, and on pub and restaurant tables.
Forget about Michelin stars, these awards celebrate home grown local success stories. A combination of celebrity chef judges and regional food scouts will help uncover Britain’s hidden food talents, but the lion share of the decision lies with the public. Voting opens today on www.uktvfood.co.uk and closes on 21st August is integral to discovering today’s unsung food champions.
From farm shops in Scotland, tea rooms in London, to millers producing flour the traditional way in East Anglia, the Local Food Hero Awards are testament to the efforts of people who sustain our rich and diverse culinary culture.
Each of the 10 regions across the UK has a celebrity food scout who will help uncover their top contenders for the title of Local Food Hero and lead the campaign to canvas votes. Scouts include Paul Rankin, Brian Turner, Michael Caines, Terri Dwyer and Edwina Currie to name but a few.
Once all the votes are in, the short listed nominees will battle it out in a celebratory 11-part TV series hosted by the three HQ judges including Gary Rhodes. Local Food Heroes 2006 will air exclusively on UKTV Food in November.
As well as the title, the winner receives a prize which promises to plough money back into the local community. Each nominee names one thing that will make a massive difference to their business operation – perhaps it’s a farm shop refurbishment, fancy fridges, a marketing campaign or even parking facilities, and for the ultimate winner of the series, this wish is granted.
The Awards Criteria -
How do you know if you are a food hero? Or if your tea shop, deli or farmer deserves a vote? The criteria are:
- Keep It Local - nominees will get top marks for locally grown produce rather than exotic imports.
- Passion – quality food, grown, produced and sold
with love and care; pride in running a business; friendly service – a smile for everyone
- Quality counts – well-bred animals, top notch ingredients, respect for the land, sound business practices, and of course, great taste is key to success.
Voting closes on August 21st. Vote on www.uktvfood.co.uk
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