The Gloucestershire Foodie Awards looks set to be a mouthwatering event following a spectacular launch at the Long Table in Stroud.
Hosted by Jonathan Smith, Foodie Awards Founder and the Long Table’s Tom Herbert, the event is an opportunity for food lovers to showcase their menus The entry deadline is September 2 and further details can be found at https://www.gloucestershirefoodieawards.co.uk
The Foodie Awards champions the Pay as you Can initiative at the Long Table, where you Pay as you Can. Contributions over £6 help other people eat the same great food for less.
Tom Herbert of the Long Table explained: “It is about rising and growing through awareness. We receive produce that is left over – we never know what we are going to get! We create delicious bowls of food with a Pay as you Can philosophy and introduce a Forward pay scheme. If you can pay, please do, and if you can’t, no problem. The aim is to sit down, enjoy a good bowl of food, and start chatting with who you are next to. I’ve grown up sitting down to eat a nutritious meal and chatting, but so many people can’t – whether they can’t afford or are on their own, or both. In addition, we offer apprenticeships and a seed bank – pick up a packet, take it home and grow.”
Jonathan Smith, Foodie Awards Founder, and Director added: “We are proud to support the Long Table. Our ethos at The Gloucestershire Foodie Awards is supporting the food, drinks, and hospitality community, and initiatives to become more sustainable through creating a like-minded community – the Foodie Awards want to make a real difference through community.
“As well as launching the Gloucestershire Foodie Awards, we want to encourage everyone to purchase an additional ‘One Meal’ Coin as part of the Pay Forward scheme and reach the target of a 1000 additional meals to offer 1000 people, who can’t afford to pay, a nutritious bowl of food. We are delighted to support The Long Table.
“We have launched in Gloucestershire! The awards are free to enter, and we call out to all food, drink, and hospitality businesses to enter. Entries will close on September 2. We are also seeking industry-led judges and further sponsorship to support initiatives and the Long Table ethos.”
Steve Gardner-Collins, Director and Chair at Visit Gloucestershire, who sponsor the event, said: “I had a speech prepared, which I will need to relate as part of my job, but I’m going to put that aside for now. This evening has touched me. Adopting two children who were starved to near death, what the Long Table stands for, and the Gloucestershire Foodie Awards supporting this wonderful CIC business have blown me away. It’s a note to all. We are delighted to be the headline sponsor.”
With the support and backing of Visit Gloucestershire, the 2022 Gloucestershire Foodie Awards aims to celebrate the food, drinks, event makers, creators, and providers of local, regional food, drinks, and hospitality experiences within Gloucestershire, from the Cotswolds to Cinderford, Tewkesbury to Stroud.
The award ceremony will take place on Monday, October 3, venue to be confirmed.
The Gloucestershire Foodie Awards supports the CIC Long Table initiative.
