Trio fight for North East Local Food Hero award

Nov 26 2008 by Jane Hall, The Journal

THE heat will be on tonight as three contenders offering the cream of North East cuisine battle to be crowned the region’s local food hero.

The Feathers Inn at Hedley on the Hill, Northumberland, Colmans fish and chip restaurant in South Shields and the Weardale Organic Soup Company – which recently changed its name to Weardale Coeliac’s Choice – will fight it out under the watchful eyes of celebrity chefs Gary Rhodes and Brian Turner for the North East Local Food Hero title.

Also in the running are two Yorkshire finalists: Whitby smokehouse and kipper shop Fortune’s, and Billy’s Farm Shop of Belby near Goole.

The winner will go through to Friday’s live national final of the UKTV Food competition to discover Britain’s ultimate champion.

It is the second year running that Rhian Cradock and partner Helen Greer of The Feathers have scored a success in the prestigious competition, which pays tribute to the nation’s independent shops, farm stalls, pubs and small businesses.

The couple, who only took over The Feathers Inn 19 months ago, scooped the North East Local Food Hero title last year before narrowly being defeated in the national final.

If Rhian and Helen win tonight it will bring to a close an astonishingly successful year, which has seen The Feathers pick up six major accolades.

The UKTV Food awards are voted for by the public with a distinguished panel of judges whittling down the list.

The five outstanding outlets in each of nine regions then compete for their local title with the winner from each going forward to the national event, which carries a £40,000 cash prize.

The judges have been fulsome in their praise of the three North East finalists. Colmans has been described as having a clean and inviting atmosphere, and not like any other local chippy, catering for all ages and including a reasonably-priced meal for pensioners.

With its cosy and inviting interior, The Feathers has built a reputation for fabulous home-cooking, with the daily-changing blackboard menu including everything from local Bywell smoked chicken Caesar salad to pork casseroled with orange, celery and leeks.

Originating up in the North Pennines, Weardale Coeliac’s Choice, run by Christine and Richard Peart, proves that healthy eating is the way to go, and the couple have worked hard in order to give back to the community by producing a selection of nutritious nibbles, the judges say.

The North East episode of Local Food Hero 2008 is on UKTV Food tonight at 9pm.

The national final will be shown on UKTV Food at 10pm on Friday.