A gluten-free chocolate brownie baked by a Cumbrian artisan baker has been named the Supreme Champion in the Great Taste Awards 2009.
The Muddee, made by Patrick Moore of More? The Artisan Bakery in Staveley, near Kendal, impressed a final judging panel consisting of Antony Worrall Thompson, Mark Hix, Thomasina Miers and Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans to secure the top accolade.
Having previously entered his More? Muddees in the competition to no avail, this year Moore adapted his recipe to exclude gluten, and said people couldn’t tell the difference between the two.
“I think intolerance sufferers are short-changed,” he said. “It’s almost as though, because a food carries a gluten-free claim, it’s acceptable for it to be lower quality and ridiculously expensive. I don’t think that’s right. So I was only interested in doing it if people couldn’t tell the difference between the gluten-free version and my original brownie.”
The Great Taste Awards, judged buy over 100 leading chefs, food writers and food and drink specialists, recognizes thousands of the best speciality products available with a three-tiered gold star system.
The Great Taste major trophy winners are:
Best Speciality from South West
The Lyme Bay Winery – Jack Ratt Scrumpy
Best Speciality from the Heart of England
Chase Distillery Ltd – Chase Elderflower Liqueur
Best Speciality from the East Midlands
Dickinson & Morris – Mini Melton Mowbray Pork Pies (six pack)
Best Speciality from Yorkshire & Humber
The Swaledale Cheese Company Ltd – Swaledale Blue (natural rind)
Best Speciality from the North East
Beckleberrys t/a Artisan Foods – Sloe Gin Sorbet
Best Speciality from the South East
Gran Stead's Ginger – Non-alcoholic Ginger Wine
Best Speciality from the North West and Supreme Champion
More? The Artisan Bakery – Gluten Free Muddee
Best Welsh Speciality
Gwaun Valley Meats – Pembrokeshire Back Bacon
Best Scottish Speciality
Nevis Bakery Ltd – Demerara Shortbread
Best Speciality from Northern Ireland
Glen Tender – Glen Tender Aberdeen Angus Sirloin Steak (21 day matured)
Best Irish Speciality
Woodcock Smokery – Smoked Salmon (wild)
Speciality Importer of the Year
The Fresh Pasta Company
Best First Time Entrant
Tea Ltd
Speciality Producer of the Year
Fudge's / Dorset Village Bakery Ltd
Guild of Fine Food Lifetime Achievement 2009
John Shepherd of Partridges