Now, this is how we think all judges should arrive for their Freefrom Food Awards judging sessions…. Chef Steve Walpole in full biker rig!!
However, before gearing up to get back on the road, Steve, along with another splendid crew of judges, had worked his way through products made in a nut-free environment, products designed for food service and ‘meat-centred ready meals’…..
Not quite as hectic as yesterday as there were fewer entries for these categories – but that did not prevent judges having some very heated discussions, especially around the vexed question of labelling….
It was also very interesting to have three judges from the food service industry as, once the new regulations come in in December 2014, food service will need to be much more focused on ‘freefrom’ as they will have to be able to tell customers about any of the 14 major allergens that may be included in their foods. And by ‘food service’ I do not just mean restaurants and cafés but the ‘not for profit’ institutions such as schools, hospitals, prisons and the military.
However, food service aside, we were very fortunate that one of the entries for the ‘made in a nut free environment’ category was this splendid birthday cake – and that it was one of our judges, Hulya Erdal’s, birthday!! So a break from the more serious business of the day was taken while we all sang Happy Birthday and Hulya cut the cake!!
Day off tomorrow and then, on Saturday, Cressida and I are off to Christine Bailey’s for the Children’s category – judged by a dozen or so of Christine’s allergic patients ranging in age from six to 15!! Now that one is going to be interesting!!
