Amongst the esteemed judges at Holdenby of contestants at Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards 2011 was Sam Springett, son and heir of proprietors of the Vine House Hotel & Restaurant in Paulerspury. (Northamptonshire’s ‘Restaurant of the Year’)

The Awards, devised by Northamptonshire Enterprise Ltd (NEL), were designed to celebrate all that is great about the county’s produce and drink, to recognise excellence within the culinary sector. Everyone from farmers and growers, to bakers and brewers were invited to enter these two categories.

The chosen finalists in the ‘Best Local Product’ category are (in alphabetical order):

• Chipolatas – Kingsthorpe Farm, Polebrook
• Chocolate Cupcake – Angelina Cupcake, Towcester
• Classic Vinaigrette – Farrington Oils, Hargrave
• Mushroom, Bacon and Thyme Tart – Limes Farm, Farthinghoe
• Original Brixworth Pâté– Brixworth Foods, Brixworth

While the shortlist of finalists in the ‘Best Local Drink’ category are (in alphabetical order):

• Champs D’Amours Sparkling White – Fleur Fields, Brixworth
• Coffee – Andronicus, Corby
• Roundhead Cider – Welland Valley Vineyard, Marston Trussell
• Solstice Stout - Hoggleys Brewery, Litchborough

Sam pictured centre with his parents, proprietors Julie and Marcus Springett, Chef at The Vine House Hotel & Restaurant Paulerspury, Northants