The YBF Awards 2014 are open for another enthralling year of entries – in a nationwide search to discover, embrace and celebrate the unsung heroes that are set to shake up the food and drink world and become the faces of the future.
Once referred to as the ‘big boy leaders of the food world’, The YBFs are famed for shining a spotlight on the boldest, the bravest and the most exciting culinary brains in the country, redefining the way we look at food.
Unlike the average ‘best restaurant’ or ‘best bar’ awards, The YBFs are on a mission to scour the country for the nation’s best and brightest butchers, bakers and cocktail makers, as well as food writers and entrepreneurs.
The Judges
The YBFs welcome the return of its distinguished long standing judges: Petra Barran – founder of KERB, god of gastronomics Nuno Mendes once of Viajante, now of The Chiltern Firehouse, queen of culinary critique Marina O’Loughlin, and jellymongers Bompas and Parr, as well as introducing new faces for 2014 including James George and Richard Turner of Turner & George, the butchers and purveyors.
The past two years have seen The YBFs unearth the UK’s finest home grown talents, including Charlotte Harbottle, of Girl Butcher fame, The Rib Man Mark Gevaux and Michelin starred chef and restaurateur Tom Sellers, of celebrated Restaurant Story.
Showcasing talent
Lily Vanilli, co-founder of The YBFs and judge of the baking category says, “In the last two years the YBFs has showcased some of the most talented new chefs, bartenders, baristas and bakers in the UK. With British food and drink rising in popularity and acclaim, this new wave of entrepreneurs is challenging convention and revolutionising the way we look at food. The YBFs are about celebrating passion, innovation and creativity and we are very excited to meet this year’s entrants. If the calibre of previous years is anything to go by, The YBFs 2014 promises to spotlight something truly inspirational.”
8 categories
In their search across Britain, The YBFs Awards invites food enthusiasts to enter any of its eight diverse categories:
- Alcohol, judged by Tony C
- Street-Food, judged by Petra Barran, Nicola Smith and Claire Kelsey
- Experiential, judged Bompas and Parr and Alexa Perrin
- Baking, judged by Lily Vanilli and Daniel Stevens
- Meat, judged by James George and Richard Turner
- Chefs, judged by Nuno Mendes
- Food Writing, judged by Marina O’Loughlin
- Coffee, judged by Tim Williams and Marco Arrigo
- Honorary, judged by The YBF Founders
The awards are open to anyone – from DIY charcuterie-makers or street food entrepreneurs to established pros in the kitchen; The YBFs are simply looking for food and drink lovers who act on their passion and who believe they encompass the YBF spirit of originality and passion. As long as your creative project fits into one of the eight categories you’re in!
Winners will not only receive one of the hottest stamps of approval in the food world, they’ll also have the help and support that they need to achieve their foodie ambitions, as well as the opportunity to show off their skills at the Awards evening, as part of an ‘exhibition’ to herald this new movement.
The YBFs have been created by three food and drink pioneers who believe there is a movement that is making food and drink the new art. Food journalist and Editor, Chloe Scott-Moncrieff, creative baker and founder of Lily Vanilli – Lily Jones, and Amy Thorne, founder and MD of TASTE PR.
For more information click here