The winner of this year's Great Taste Golden Fork Award for Scotland has been announced after months of ‘rigorous’ blind tastings from a judging team of over 500 experts.
The grand finale of the world’s largest food and drink accreditation scheme awards took place last night with a ceremony at the Battersea Arts Centre.
The coveted award for Scotland was this year presented to Loch Fyne Oysters from Argyll, for its Loch Fyne Kinglas Fillet.
Pictured: Richard Hunt-Smith, Sarah Fulton and Iain Baxter (Image: Guild of Fine Food (Richard Faulks))
The Kinglas Fillet is made from the centre cut taken from the crown of a classic smoked salmon fillet, cured with brown sugar and sea salt then gently smoked over oak shavings from retired whisky casks, resulting in a mild, delicate flavour.
The judges are said to have been impressed by its “stunning pink and orange appearance” and "buttery" texture at every stage of the blind-tasted judging process across 89 days in Dorset and London.
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John Farrand, managing director at the Guild of Fine Food said: “Announcing the Great Taste Golden Fork winners is always a huge honour and a real celebration of all of the producers reaching the finale of the Great Taste judging season.
“It’s been an exceptional year for both creative and traditional food and drink entries, with many products showing us that well-made food and drink will always stand out when put to the test.
“Huge congratulations from all of us at the Guild to all the award winners who have risen to the top and proven to be the best of the best international food and drink."
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The Great Taste Golden Fork from Scotland was sponsored by Scotland Food and Drink.
Also nominated this year were the Great Taste 3-star Jalapeno Ketchup Dead Hot Sauce from Trodden Black based in Dollar, Clackmannanshire, and Sea Salt Caramel Filled Bar from Chocolatia based in Forfar, Angus.
The full list of trophies awarded at the ceremony is as follows:
· Great Taste Golden Fork from England – Belazu Ingredient Company for its Sour Cherry Molasses
· Great Taste Golden Fork from Scotland – Loch Fyne Oysters for its Loch Fyne Kinglas Fillet
· Great Taste Golden Fork from Wales – Hive Mind Mead & Brew Co. for its Wye Valley Meadery Traditional Mead
· Great Taste Golden Fork from Northern Ireland – Mauds Ice Creams for its Pistachio Ice Cream
· Great Taste Golden Fork from Ireland – Silver Hill Duck for its Silver Hill Confit Duck Legs
· Great Taste Golden Fork from Spain – Fino for its Fino Dark Balsamic (Crema)
· Great Taste Golden Fork from Greece – Roussas Dairy for its Roussas Galotyri P.D.O.
· Great Taste Golden Fork from Italy – Caseificio Il Fiorino for its Cacio di Afrodite
· Great Taste Golden Fork from the Rest of Europe – Natur Press Team for its Bagoila Cold Pressed Pumpkin Seed Oil
· Great Taste Golden Fork from the Rest of World – DoYouBo Industry Co. for its DYB Naturally Brewed Brown Soybean Soy Sauce
· Great Taste Startisan of the Year – La Maritxu for its La Maritxu Basque Cheesecake
· Nigel Barden Heritage Award – The Newt in Somerset for its Ice Cyder
·The Guild of Fine Food awarded Silvija Davidson with its annual Guild of Fine Food Contribution to Food & Drink.
For more information on Loch Fyne Oysters click here.
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