A Grown Up View Of The Great Taste Awards 2011

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The eternally cynical amongst us may try and mock the Great Taste Awards by saying they’re handed out like sweets and a children’s party but that’s to belittle the sense of recognition that new, small food producers take from receiving an award. I’ve been in communication with a number of people about these awards and their sense of joy is palpable. Having taken the risk of to produce chocolates and go up against the ‘big boys’ with their suitably big budgets in this rough and tumble market, why should we say that the acknowledgment they have received from their peers is meaningless?

Having seen My Chocolate Bar from inception when I reviewed their simply outstanding Caffè Macchiato Truffles to winning three awards this year for their Rum and Blackcurrant Liqueur truffles, our Limoncello truffles and finally our Ginger Truffles – is just plain wonderful. Similarly knowing how hard Katie from Matcha Chocolat works, is fantastic for her to win awards to the same level as the much celebrated (and rightly so) Marc Demarquette.

To all you winners … my most audible congratulations and a big pat on the back from me. Well done!

Chocolate Based Pies and Puddings

Award Entry Entered By Telephone
2 star Lovetub Chocolate Pudding Farmhouse Fare Ltd. 01200 453110 (2)
2 star Tiffin Beckleberrys Ltd. 0191 414 1180
1 star Farmhouse Fare Luxury Sticky Chocolate Pudding Farmhouse Fare Ltd. 01200 453110 (2)
1 star Manna from Devon Sticky Chocolate & Walnut Pudding Manna From Devon 01803 752943
1 star Christmas made easy chocolate something Christmas Made Easy 00353 872 498756 00353 419 813 837

 

Chocolate Biscuits

Award Entry Entered By Telephone
1 star Furniss More Range – Chocolate Orange Furniss of Cornwall Ltd. 01208 265830

 

Chocolate Cake

Award Entry Entered By Telephone
1 star Chocolate Silk Gateau Heaven’s Cakes 00353 87 206 3008
1 star Mad hatter bar, fruity rhapsody Lucky’s Corporations Ltd. 07837 692 136

 

Dark Chocolate Bars – Plain or Flavoured

Award Entry Entered By Telephone
3 star Madagascar 75% Pralus 0033 477689936 X 4
2 star Santander Coffee Bits – 70% Compaia Nacional de Chocolates S.A.S 00 57 3258691
2 star Seductive Feeding Your Imagination 0845 602 6862
2 star Friis-Holm – Chuno 70% Friis-Holm + 45 28 140 300
2 star Rabot Estate Saint Lucia 66% dark Hotel Chocolat Ltd. 01763 257766
1 star Duffy’s Indio Rojo 72% Red Star Chocolate Ltd 07721 926706
1 star Dark 70% Raspberry & Rosemary The Melange Chocolate Shop & Workshop 07722 650711
1 star Santander 53% Compaia Nacional de Chocolates S.A.S 00 57 3258691
1 star Chocolate and Love – Orange Mantra Chocolate and Love 0845 0522416
1 star Tobago Estate Chocolate Tobago Cocoa Estate W.I Ltd
1 star Caramelised Orange Bar James Chocolates 01749 831330
1 star Piura Porcelana 75% Original Beans B.V 0031 614811362
1 star Oialla Bojesen Chokolade AS + 4533 914600
1 star Xylitol Chocolate Orange Xylitol UK Ltd 020 8809 0411
1 star Salted Caramel Dark Chocolate Bar Cathryn Cariad Chocolates 01766 762796
1 star Lordy Lord Montezuma’s Chocolates Ltd. 0845 450 6304 / 01243 510510
1 star Organic Fairtrade Chilli and Lime Chocolate Bar Organic Seed & Bean Co Ltd 07584 345322
1 star Gingeryö Ginger White Rabbit Chocolate Co. Ltd. 01482 679325
1 star Madagascar 100% Pralus 0033 477689936 X 4
1 star Chuao 75% Pralus 0033 477689936 X 4
1 star 70% Dark Bar The Chocolate Cafe 01706 822 828
1 star Chilli & Lime Belgian Chocolate Bites Bittersweet Chocolates 07968 163706
1 star House Bar 71% Auberge du Chocolat 01753 892022/888811 home

 

Milk Chocolate Bars – Plain or Flavoured

Award Entry Entered By Telephone
2 star Chocolate and Love – Crushed Diamonds Chocolate and Love 0845 0522416
2 star Lime & Sea Salt ?Margheritaö White Rabbit Chocolate Co. Ltd. 01482 679325
2 star Island growers Saint Lucia 50% milk with sea salt caramel Hotel Chocolat Ltd. 01763 257766
1 star Moroccan Mint Discs James Chocolates 01749 831330
1 star Sensual Feeding Your Imagination 0845 602 6862
1 star Sexy Feeding Your Imagination 0845 602 6862
1 star Fairtrade Belgium Chocolate Produced by Italio Swisse Weber Shandwick 01612 389413 01612 389403 – Sophie
1 star Esmeraldas Milk 42% Original Beans B.V 0031 614811362
1 star Pale Rose Edition 1 Amelia Rope Chocolate Ltd 07925 304 962
1 star Cappuccino Crunch White Rabbit Chocolate Co. Ltd. 01482 679325
1 star Wattleseed & Hazelnut Milk Chocolate Bar Kokoh Chocolate 01483 275196
1 star Milk Chocolate Bar Marasu’s Petits Fours Ltd. 020 8961 3399

 

White Chocolate Bars – Plain or Flavoured

 

Award Entry Entered By Telephone
2 star Lemon & Pepper Discs James Chocolates 01749 831330
1 star White Choc Mosaic Bar Cocoa Red 01624 838384
1 star White Peanut Butter Bar Galloway Gold / The Cocoa Bean Co 01557 860608
1 star Cappuccino White Chocolate Bar Cathryn Cariad Chocolates 01766 762796
1 star Lemon & Poppy Seed White Chocolate Bar Cathryn Cariad Chocolates 01766 762796

 

Chocolate Ice Cream

Award Entry Entered By Telephone
1 star LP Buffalo Milk Chocolate Ice Cream Laverstoke Park Farm 01256 772826
1 star Develish Chocolate Ice Cream Môn ar Lwy 01407 840178
1 star Chocolate Ice Cream Cheshire Farm Ice Cream / Tattenhall Dairy Products Ltd. 01829 770995 (2)

 

Filled Chocolates – Dark, Milk Or White

 

Award Entry Entered By Telephone
3 star Kentish cobnut caramel praline Demarquette Fine Chocolates Ltd. 020 7351 5467
2 star Coffee & Caramel ?Macaroonö James Chocolates 01749 831330
2 star Yuzu Chocolate Lir Chocolates 00 353 46 9091046
2 star Sea-Salted Caramels Cathryn Cariad Chocolates 01766 762796
2 star Chestnut and Honey Cocoa Atelier 00 353 16753616
2 star Lychee & Rose Lauden Chocolates Ltd. 01132 440289
2 star Apple and spice caramel Demarquette Fine Chocolates Ltd. 020 7351 5467
2 star Rose Creams Bittersweet Chocolates 07968 163706
1 star Violet Creme House of Dorchester Ltd. 01420 84181
1 star Stem Ginger House of Dorchester Ltd. 01420 84181
1 star Ginger Bite Cherish Chocolates 0800 6125651
1 star Vanilla Praline ?Macaroonö James Chocolates 01749 831330
1 star Raspberry & Wafer Casemir Chocolates Ltd. 0208 804 1395
1 star Orange Marmalade & Jelly Casemir Chocolates Ltd. 0208 804 1395
1 star Chocolate Peppermint Creams Summerdown Farms Ltd. 01256 780252
1 star Apricot Chocolate Chococo 01929 421777
1 star Old Thumper Beer Chocolate Chococo 01929 421777
1 star Crunchy Praline Chocolate Chococo 01929 421777
1 star Blackcurrant & Liquorice Bennetts of Mangawhai Ltd. 00 64 (0) 9 4315500
1 star Dark Boozy Cherry Galloway Gold / The Cocoa Bean Co 01557 860608
1 star Mint Log (Milk) Siocled Sarah Bunton Chocolates 01970 890650
1 star Honey & Wild Hazelnut Milk Chocolate Ganache Charlotte Flower Chocolates 01887 830307
1 star Early Grey Tea Cocoa Atelier 00 353 16753616
1 star Ferrero eggs- hazelnut Ferrero UK Ltd 01923 690452
1 star Mediterranean Orange Lauden Chocolates Ltd. 01132 440289
1 star Barre infernale milk Pralus 0033 477689936 X 4
1 star Barre infernale dark Pralus 0033 477689936 X 4
1 star Tiny pieces of wonderland, fancy fudge Lucky’s Corporations Ltd. 07837 692 136
1 star Cardamom & Banana Matcha Chocolat 01491 825988
1 star Masala Chai Caramel Matcha Chocolat 01491 825988
1 star Rose Caramel Demarquette Fine Chocolates Ltd. 020 7351 5467
1 star American pecan and maple caramel praline Demarquette Fine Chocolates Ltd. 020 7351 5467
1 star Salted soft caramels Hotel Chocolat Ltd. 01763 257766
1 star Dizzy ppralines Hotel Chocolat Ltd. 01763 257766


Truffles with Alcohol

Award Entry Entered By Telephone
2 star Truffle Fairy Tequila, Salt & Lemon Truffle The Truffle Fairy 00353 872862634
2 star Champagne truffles The Booja-Booja Co Ltd. 01508 558888 (4) B Louise : 557901

 

Truffles Without Alcohol

 

Award Entry Entered By Telephone
2 star Lemon Date Truffle Devonport Chocolates 0064 9445 6001 x 201
2 star Truffle Fairy Cardamom and Orange Truffle The Truffle Fairy 00353 872862634
1 star Dark Chilli Truffle The Little Deli 01492 872114
1 star House Dark Truffles Cocoa Red 01624 838384
1 star Truffle Fairy Chai Espresso Truffle The Truffle Fairy 00353 872862634
1 star Dark Chocolate Truffle Gusto & Relish 020 8878 2005

Others (aka I couldn’t find them in a category)

Award Entry Entered By Telephone
1 star Limoncello Truffle My Chocolate Bar 01264 323973
1 star Rum & Blackcurrant My Chocolate Bar 01264 323973

 

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Title: A Grown Up View Of The Great Taste Awards 2011
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Section: Other
Editor: Lee McCoy
Categories: Awards
Feedback: 5 comments

  • http://twitter.com/TootSweetsShrew Julia Wenlock

    For the last 2 years I have won awards through the Great Taste Awards and I’m really proud of the fact. I’m a small producer and winning gives me the confidence to know what I am doing is correct. It helps me improve my skills and strive to get perfection.
    I don’t really know if the awards are handed out to far too many producers, but I would say the judging (from what I know) is extremely fair and well run. I believe 7482 products were entered this year, 1686 were awarded 1 star, 608 recieved 2 stars and only 114 recieved 3 stars.

  • Annabella

    I am sorry lee but I have to agree with those who are a bit cynical about these ‘awards’. These are handed out like smarties at a schoolkids party.

    Certainly for chocolate as a buyer of quality chocolates,the Academy of Chocolate awards are a far,far higher benchmark of quality than the taste awards,

    • Lee

      I wonder what % of all small producers won an award? Pretty damn small I’d say!!

    • http://twitter.com/TootSweetsShrew Julia Wenlock

      I can only speak from my own experience, but I entered the AoC award this year and I didn’t win anything. As it was my very first time I was expecting to, but I did hope for feedback. I have never recieved any feedback even after sending emails. The feedback wiuld have helpedme improve the chocolates I entered.
      The GTA’s always offer feedback, which I have always found really useful, I would also note from the winners of the AoC awards this year I felt like a lot of people were awarded, obviously I would said this was down to the quality of enteries, but could you not also argue that the awards are also given out like Smarties?

  • Markbaravelli

    Hi Lee, Julia and Annabella

    I don’t really see how these awards, either GTA or AoC can be handed out like ‘ smarties at a schoolkids party’ there are a set amount of categories and each category is awarded a gold, silver or bronze, or 3, 2 or 1 stars.
    Surely this is just awarding the best entrants with the prize that they deserve.

    I know that people dedicate a lot of time and effort to the awards and when they win I think that it is a great pity that people ridicule the awards instead of congratulating the winners.