If you read my review of last year’s Eat In Awards, you would recall that I wasn’t impressed with the event. Thankfully they took note of the feedback and this year the awards were fantastic.
The Eat In DSTV Food Network awards this year were held on a Saturday morning at the Stellenbosch Market at Oude Libertas. This is one of my favourite markets and it’s the perfect venue for the awards. They set up an extra section which was for the Eat In Awards nominees so you could taste and buy the various products and chat to the producers.
Then the actual awards were held in the amphitheatre. It’s perfect, there is ample seating and a clear view of the stage. We could hear every word that was said and demonstrate our enthusiasm with applause at appropriate times. Definitely a 1oo% improvement on last year’s awards.
When I got home I paged through the Eat In magazine and it’s full of great information. Apart from the listing of outlets, it has recipes, a guide to what foods are in season, interviews with small producers and much more. Definitely worth picking up a copy at your local store.
The winners of the various awards this year were:
Best new product: Karma jams
Innovation award: Earthshine’s Kale chips
Organic/free-range award: Croft chicken
Heritage award: Rozendal vinegar
Best local food blog: My Easy Cooking
Best outlets
North: Braeside Butchery
East: Piggly Wiggly
South: Ocean’s Edge in Sea Point
Best markets
North: Pretoria Boeremark
East: The Food Market
South: Wild Oats
Best small producers
Confectionery: Sweet Temptations toffee
Grocery: Quality pickles
Bakery: Oude Bank Bakkerij
Earth: Boon Hill salad leaves
Dairy (cheese): Buffalo Ridge
Dairy (other): Jenny’s clotted cream
Paddock: Dargle Duck