Entries are open for the fifth annual Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards, an illustrious event celebrating the very best writers, image-makers, publishers, presenters and personalities working in food and drink today.
Every year Fortnum’s assembles an expert panel of judges to choose the winners and this year is no exception. Chaired by Ewan Venters, CEO of Fortnum & Mason, the independent panel selects the winners in 12 categories from work published or broadcast during 2016. For 2017, the distinguished collective includes:
Susy Atkins – Wine and drinks columnist for Stella magazine, Sunday Telegraph, wine editor of delicious magazine, author of eleven wine books and regular broadcaster
Ryan Chetiyawardana – AKA Mr Lyan, owner and founder of White Lyan and Dandelyan, multi-award winning bartender, producer and author
Florence Knight – Chef and columnist for The Sunday Times
Dan Saladino – Series producer and presenter on The Food Programme
Marcus Wareing – Restaurateur and judge on MasterChef: The Professionals
Will Lyons – Wine columnist for The Sunday Times and Senior Fine Wine Advisor for Berry Bros & Rudd Ltd
This year’s awards will see the addition of a Visual category, which calls for entries to be submitted from print, online and social media outlets. So much of the gastronomic world is now represented through imagery and the Food and Drink Awards will now recognise those achievements.
The TV Personality of the Year is the only award to be chosen by the public and allows food and drink fans from across the country to vote for their favourite TV personality and be entered into a free prize draw to win an iconic Fortnum & Mason hamper worth £500.
The full list of categories is:
- Food Book
- Drink Book
- Drink Writer
- Visual NEW
- Cookery Book
- Debut Drink Book
- Cookery Writer
- Programme
- Debut Food Book
- Food Writer
- Restaurant Writer
- Radio Programme or Podcast
Last year’s winners include Nigella Lawson for TV Personality of the Year, Giles Coren for his work in The Times, Felicity Cloake for her work in G2 (The Guardian) and chefs Jordan Bourke & Rejina Pyo for their book, Our Korean Kitchen.
Commenting on the launch, Venters said: “I am incredibly proud that the Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards, only in their fifth year, are already considered to be one of the most prestigious events in the foodie calendar. The new Visual category is a wonderful addition and will recognise the contributions from the ever-growing social media world.”
Submission details can be found here, entries close on 31st January 2017. The Awards shortlist will be announced on 10th April 2017 with the awards spectacular, co-hosted by Ewan Venters and Claudia Winkleman, in May 2017 at Fortnum & Mason’s flagship store in Piccadilly. Winners in each category will receive an elegant trophy, an iconic Fortnum & Mason hamper and a bottle of Fortnum & Mason vintage champagne.
For more information click here