Winners
Local Food Hero 2006 Winners!
Last November saw Mike Thurlow of Letheringsett Mill become UKTV Food's first ever Local Food Hero. Judges Gary Rhodes, Ollie Rowe, Rosemary Shrager, and a public online vote, singled out this East Anglian miller from ten regional finalists to win £40,000 for his business.
Mike impressed everyone with his delicious organic baked goods and his personal drive to restore his mill. One of only 27 remaining water flour millers in the UK, Mike is not only helping to keep a lost art alive but is also championing the use of organic spelt flour - one of the oldest grains, first used by the Romans.
"Our campaign was very simple" says Mike, "we made a load of stickers that we stuck on our bags of flour - if customers were pleased with our product we asked them to go online and vote for us. Simple as that!
"Winning the regional finals would've been enough, but going onto win the nationals was just amazing. Business-wise, orders have gone mad and I've been able to take on a new member of staff, on top of buying a new truck.
"There's never been any money to advertise, but since getting through the first heat we've been in the regional and national papers, on the BBC's Great British Menu, and I've even been invited to meet Prince Charles at a farm shop I supply.
"With the prize money we've ordered two mill stones from Holland, which cost something close to £15,000. We've done a lot of desperately needed repair work, bought a top of the range computer for the office, and we're also planning to have an education area in the mill. As you can tell there's no limit to what this can do! It's quite magic, it really is."
Mike was up against nine other regional winners, each with their own particular skills and strengths...
Original Smokies from Arbroath
The judges felt that Iain was heroic in working to retain the name of the Arbroath smokie for his region. Delighted with the quality of his cooked fish, it was praised for its very subtle hot smoked flavour, healthy and highly nutritious.
"From start to finish it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. The presenters were great – Gary was good craic."
Scotland's runners-up
Northumbrian Quality Meats
The sheer quality of the meat bowled our judges over. They were very impressed with his principles on animal welfare and husbandry and loved that he tends from birth to slaughter and straight to the plate.
"Local Food Heroes definitely strengthened our position within the industry. This year I’m going to actively encourage others to get involved in the competition."
North East's runners-up
The Café @ Green Pavilion
Hannah is our youngest winner, having started a café in Buxton two years ago. Because she didn’t always trust the provenance when she ate out, she was particularly driven by the desire to source meat and fish locally from well known suppliers.
"We’ve had loads of people coming on the strength of reading about us in the paper or seeing us on the programme."
North West's runners-up
Rowswells Fruit & Veg
The judges loved the range of his vegetables, his inventiveness and determination to track down unusual varieties to ensure the highest quality of veg on the plate.
"Every time the programme has been on television I’ve had another stream of positive feedback."
South West's runners-up
Lighthouse Bakery
Rachel Duffield of this Wandsworth bakery won because of huge local support for her eclectic range of breads, (including chocolate bread, Russian black brea, Pugliese, too many to list) which have local residents queuing round the corner at the weekends.
"Our customers were very excited about the campaign – of course they were chuffed to bits when they heard we’d won the regional finals."
London's finalists
Organic Zone
Jean runs an organic café in the centre of Cardiff, set up with very little capital but making a name for itself and filling a niche which was not previously catered for. In the regional final Jean won with a display of really delicious home made food, sourced within 25 miles of Cardiff.
A place the size of ours just doesn’t have money to advertise so you can imagine how pleased we were to be featured in a national paper.
Wales finalists
The Pink Pig Organic Farm Shop & Café
Sally is a true pioneer, based near Scunthorpe in Lincolnshire, not a foodie county according to her but one where she has had to blaze a trail for good food. She had a farm which was struggling and decided to diversify, rearing her own meat and selling it in the farm shop. It’s paying dividends with an increase in local custom responding to the high quality of her goods.
"It was great for business and the customers were just delighted to be involved. They felt very loyal and passionate about it through it all."
Midlands finalists
The Crooked Billet
Paul runs a pub restaurant and also cooks lunches for his local primary school. The judges were particularly impressed with two aspects of his work – he trades dinners for local ingredients, so if you have a glut of courgettes and take him a tray, you get a free lunch; and also his commitment to providing great food for school kids.
"It was just a really enjoyable thing to do. I found it quite an education but more importantly it was dead good fun."
South East finalists
Yellow Door Deli
Simon Dougan’s deli is a haven of delicious food – meat and fish which he smokes in a tiny smokery at the back of the shop. Plenty of prepared food made from local ingredients impressed the judges. He keeps his own pigs and sells the pork and bacon in the shop.
"I really enjoyed meeting the other contestants involved - sharing tips and ideas"
Northern Ireland finalists
Letheringsett Mill
Mike’s personal drive to restore and work his mill deeply impressed the judges, along with his commitment to spelt flour, one of the oldest grains known to be used for baked goods in this country – first used by the Romans. Very good for people with mild gluten allergies, also delicious and increasingly popular.
"There’s no limit to what this can do."
East Anglia's runners-up
"Our campaign was very simple" says Mike, "we made a load of stickers that we stuck on our bags of flour - if customers were pleased with our product we asked them to go online and vote for us. Simple as that!
"Winning the regional finals would've been enough, but going onto win the nationals was just amazing. Business-wise, orders have gone mad and I've been able to take on a new member of staff, on top of buying a new truck.
"There's never been any money to advertise, but since getting through the first heat we've been in the regional and national papers, on the BBC's Great British Menu, and I've even been invited to meet Prince Charles at a farm shop I supply.
"With the prize money we've ordered two mill stones from Holland, which cost something close to £15,000. We've done a lot of desperately needed repair work, bought a top of the range computer for the office, and we're also planning to have an education area in the mill. As you can tell there's no limit to what this can do! It's quite magic, it really is."
Mike was up against nine other regional winners, each with their own particular skills and strengths...
Scotland
Regional winner: Iain SpinkOriginal Smokies from Arbroath
The judges felt that Iain was heroic in working to retain the name of the Arbroath smokie for his region. Delighted with the quality of his cooked fish, it was praised for its very subtle hot smoked flavour, healthy and highly nutritious.
"From start to finish it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. The presenters were great – Gary was good craic."
Scotland's runners-up
North East
Regional winner: Steve RamshawNorthumbrian Quality Meats
The sheer quality of the meat bowled our judges over. They were very impressed with his principles on animal welfare and husbandry and loved that he tends from birth to slaughter and straight to the plate.
"Local Food Heroes definitely strengthened our position within the industry. This year I’m going to actively encourage others to get involved in the competition."
North East's runners-up
North West
Regional winner: Hannah CritchlowThe Café @ Green Pavilion
Hannah is our youngest winner, having started a café in Buxton two years ago. Because she didn’t always trust the provenance when she ate out, she was particularly driven by the desire to source meat and fish locally from well known suppliers.
"We’ve had loads of people coming on the strength of reading about us in the paper or seeing us on the programme."
North West's runners-up
South West
Regional winner: John RowswellRowswells Fruit & Veg
The judges loved the range of his vegetables, his inventiveness and determination to track down unusual varieties to ensure the highest quality of veg on the plate.
"Every time the programme has been on television I’ve had another stream of positive feedback."
South West's runners-up
London
Regional winner: Rachel DuffieldLighthouse Bakery
Rachel Duffield of this Wandsworth bakery won because of huge local support for her eclectic range of breads, (including chocolate bread, Russian black brea, Pugliese, too many to list) which have local residents queuing round the corner at the weekends.
"Our customers were very excited about the campaign – of course they were chuffed to bits when they heard we’d won the regional finals."
London's finalists
Wales
Regional winner: Jean KaneOrganic Zone
Jean runs an organic café in the centre of Cardiff, set up with very little capital but making a name for itself and filling a niche which was not previously catered for. In the regional final Jean won with a display of really delicious home made food, sourced within 25 miles of Cardiff.
A place the size of ours just doesn’t have money to advertise so you can imagine how pleased we were to be featured in a national paper.
Wales finalists
Midlands
Regional winner: Sally JacksonThe Pink Pig Organic Farm Shop & Café
Sally is a true pioneer, based near Scunthorpe in Lincolnshire, not a foodie county according to her but one where she has had to blaze a trail for good food. She had a farm which was struggling and decided to diversify, rearing her own meat and selling it in the farm shop. It’s paying dividends with an increase in local custom responding to the high quality of her goods.
"It was great for business and the customers were just delighted to be involved. They felt very loyal and passionate about it through it all."
Midlands finalists
South East
Regional winner: Paul ClerehughThe Crooked Billet
Paul runs a pub restaurant and also cooks lunches for his local primary school. The judges were particularly impressed with two aspects of his work – he trades dinners for local ingredients, so if you have a glut of courgettes and take him a tray, you get a free lunch; and also his commitment to providing great food for school kids.
"It was just a really enjoyable thing to do. I found it quite an education but more importantly it was dead good fun."
South East finalists
Northern Ireland
Regional winner: Simon DouganYellow Door Deli
Simon Dougan’s deli is a haven of delicious food – meat and fish which he smokes in a tiny smokery at the back of the shop. Plenty of prepared food made from local ingredients impressed the judges. He keeps his own pigs and sells the pork and bacon in the shop.
"I really enjoyed meeting the other contestants involved - sharing tips and ideas"
Northern Ireland finalists
East Anglia
National and regional winner: Mike ThurlowLetheringsett Mill
Mike’s personal drive to restore and work his mill deeply impressed the judges, along with his commitment to spelt flour, one of the oldest grains known to be used for baked goods in this country – first used by the Romans. Very good for people with mild gluten allergies, also delicious and increasingly popular.
"There’s no limit to what this can do."
East Anglia's runners-up
Our Programmes
Recipes
Cake Recipes
|
Chicken Recipes
|
Beef Recipes
|
Bread Recipes
|
Cheesecake Recipes
| Chocolate Cake Recipes
|
Chocolate Recipes
|
Christmas recipes
| Cooking Recipes
|
Curry Recipes
|
Easy Recipes
|
Fish Recipes
|
Food Recipes
| Free Recipes
|
Healthy Recipes
|
Indian Recipes
|
Lamb Recipes
|
Pasta Recipes
|
Pork Recipes
|
Soup Recipes
|
Vegetarian Recipes
|
Apple Crumble Recipe
| Baking Recipes
|
Birthday Cake Recipe
|
Brownie Recipe
|
Burger Recipe
|
Carrot Cake Recipe
|
Chicken Curry Recipe
|
Chili Recipe
|
Chinese Recipes
|
Delia Smith Recipes
|
Dinner Recipes
|
Fudge Recipe
|
Greek Recipes
|
Ice Cream Recipes
|
Italian Recipes
|
Kids Recipes
|
Low Fat Recipes
| Salad Recipes
|
Salmon Recipes
|
Sauce Recipes
|
Steak Recipes
|
Stew Recipes
|
Thai Recipes
|
Vegan Recipes
|
BBQ Recipes
|
Stir Fry Recipes
|
Tapas Recipes
