Have you enjoyed a fantastic meal recently that you’re desperate to tell people about? Do you have a favourite café that you’ll take any opportunity to pop into for tea and cake? Is there a local food or drink that tantalises your taste buds?

If the answer to any of the above is “yes”, then now is the time to shout about it by making a nomination for the Norfolk Food & Drink Awards 2023.

The awards celebrate the very best of food and drink in Norfolk and are making a welcome return for the first time since the pandemic.  

After all the challenges of the last few years, the awards champion and highlight the achievements of the people across the county who are serving us outstanding food and drink in wonderful settings. 

Now it is over to you – to nominate your favourites. It is your chance to shine a light on Norfolk’s food heroes and heroines, name the people and businesses which have thrived and survived, made a difference and added to the fabulous flavour of our county. 

Eastern Daily Press: The finalists will be invited to the Norfolk Food Awards event on Monday, September 18The finalists will be invited to the Norfolk Food Awards event on Monday, September 18 (Image: Simon Finlay Photography)

The Norfolk Food and Drink Awards are brought to you by Norfolk magazine, in association with the Eastern Daily Press, and supported by Bread Hospitality, which is a big supporter of the awards and of celebrating the food and drink sector in Norfolk.

We are pleased to announce that Alliance Catering is officially the headline sponsor of the awards. 

“I am absolutely over the moon to support and sponsor this incredible event,” said Herman van den Berg, general manager at Alliance East Anglia.

“When the opportunity presented itself to be involved I just had to jump at it. Personally, and as a business, we have a fiery passion for hospitality and there’s no better place to celebrate this than Norfolk.”

We would also like to thank our category sponsors, including Brasted’s, Bread Source, Castlemeadow Care, The Gin Trap Inn, The Gunton Arms and City College Norwich. 

There are 11 categories open for entries, which will be accepting entries from businesses, as well as nominations from customers. 

The categories are: Pub or Bar of the Year, Best Coffee Shop or Café, Restaurant of the Year, Best Norfolk Producer, Chef of the Year, Front of House Experience, Food and Drink Retailer of the Year, Best Newcomer, Street Food Vendor, Field to Fork and Food/Drink Experience.

There is also an Outstanding Achievement Award, which is a non-entry category, with a winner selected by the judges.

Entries will remain open until midnight on Sunday, June 11, 2023. Judging will then commence, with two judges per category going out to complete organised meetings or unannounced visits. 

The judges will score entries against set criteria to determine the finalists for each category. 

The winners will be announced at the 2023 Norfolk Food Awards event at Yalm in the Royal Arcade, Norwich, on Monday, September 18. 

To view the full criteria and submit your entries and nominations, visit the awards website at norfolkfada.co.uk

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