Bakeries of the Year: Great Food Club Awards 2020

October 31st, 2019

Winners

Small Food Bakery, Nottingham – Sourdough Producer of the Year
Hambleton Bakery, Exton, Rutland – Cake Baker of the Year

Finalists

Bisbrooke Artisans, Bisbrooke, Rutland
Bakery Cottage, Melton Mowbray, Rutland

The winners are Small Food Bakery of Nottingham for its sourdough, and Hambleton Bakery of Rutland for its cakes.

This category was judged via a blind tasting, with experienced baker and chef Chris Ansell (executive chef at The Olive Branch) supplying his expert opinion.

Sourdough

After all the scores were added together, the clear winner in the Sourdough Category was Notttingham’s Small Food Bakery. Founded by Kimberley Bell, Small Food Bakery is a former Radio 4 Food & Farming Awards ‘Best Food Producer’.

The Small Food Bakery team

Their winning Radford Wild loaf is naturally leavened sourdough made with UK-grown wheat from Gilchesters Organics, sea salt and water. Its robust flavour and aroma, moist, springy texture, and even crumb won the day.

Small Food Bakery’s winning sourdough – the Radford Wild (centre)

The contest was close. All loaves supplied by the four finalists were of excellent quality. Congratulations to all.

Cake

In the cake blind-tasting, Hambleton Bakery’s chocolate & hazelnut brownie triumphed, for its truffle-like richness and intense flavour. Special mention to Bakery Cottage, whose brownie, with its melt-in-the-middle consistency, came close.

Julian Carter, head baker and co-founder at Hambleton Bakery
Hambleton Bakery’s winning brownie
Bakery Cottage of Melton Mowbray makes cake boxes, which you can order online
Bakery Cottage brownies

Pictures from the blind-tasting

Clockwise, from bottom left: Sourdough loaves from Bisbrooke Artisans, Small Food Bakery, Hambleton Bakery and Bakery Cottage
Chef Chris Ansell judges one of the loaves
Recording the scores
Remnants from the brownie tasting session
The author:

Matt lives in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. He is passionate about the independent food & drink sector and founded Great Food Club in 2010 after being inspired by local producers near his home town.