Hole-free Swiss cheese wins the 2012 FreeFrom Food Awards!!

Vegusto received the FAIR Trophy for the best FreeFrom Food 2012, for their Mild Aromatic Dairy-free cheese.

'Ohmigod! This is the best thing I have tasted in years!!!' So said not one, but all five dairy-free judges after they had tasted the Vegusto Mild Aromatic Dairy-free cheese, winner of this year’s FreeFrom Food Awards, which were presented last night by Antony Worrall Thompson at the Museum of London in Docklands.

‘For years dairy free and vegan manufacturers have struggled to make a really tasty ‘cheese’ substitute,’ said Michelle Berriedale-Johnson, chair of the judges for the FreeFrom Food Awards, ‘but they have never been able to crack it. Which makes Vegusto’s achievement so exciting. We are not talking vintage cheddar here, but we are talking a very pleasant, tasty ‘cheese’ that you could serve to anyone on a cracker or in a sandwich and they would not even notice that it was dairy free. Our dairy-intolerant judges were beside themselves with delight!’

Not that Vegusto had it all their own way. They faced very strong competition from the winners of five of the other categories.

The Gluten Free Kitchen’s Ovencrust Chicken & Bacon Pie (Winner of the Pies, flans and ready meals category)

‘A lovely golden pie’ said the judges, ‘Great, crisp pastry with a succulent, tasty chicken filling – you would never know it was gluten, wheat and dairy free and could even be egg free. There is a real need for savoury freefrom pies and this ticks all the boxes.’

Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Flour (Joint winner of the Ingredients category)

The judges were very impressed with this unusual flour combination from Oregon that includes chickpeas and fava beans along with potato, tapioca and sorghum flours. ‘Extremely versatile’, they said ‘while being protein and fibre rich. A really excellent mix.'

Anila’s Sauces Goan Green Sauce
(Joint winner of the Ingredients category)

‘Anila's sauces are always so wonderful’ said one judge, expressing the views of all, ‘as she uses such fresh and pure ingredients in such a perfect balance. Deep green flavour and fantastic ingredients.’

Daas – Ambre Beer
 (Winner of the Gluten-free Beer category)

‘So good that gluten-free beer can really hold its head up in the pub these days’ was the verdict of several of our beer judges. ‘Daas’ Ambre beer was a deep amber colour,’ they went on, ‘with a yellow head, fruity aroma, fruity flavour. An excellent, well-balanced beer.’

inSpiral’s Raw Dehydrated Kale Chips: Cheesie Purple Corn
 (Winner of the Raw food category)

‘What a lovely innovative product – puts a whole new complexion on 'raw' food’. The judges loved the inSpiral’s kale chips and the fact that they were so totally freefrom and so cheese-ily tasty without any cheese!

Winners of the other categories were as follows – see further below for full details and judges comments.

See the Awards website (http://www.freefromfoodawards.co.uk/winners_12.html) for details of, and links to, all winners, highly commended and commended products.

For further information or images of the winning products and the presentations contact michelle@foodsmatter.com

Twitter: @FFFoodAwards

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/wwwfoodsmattercom/230382425337

Innovation Award

Winner:

Bessant & Drury Fine Ice Cream Co. – Lemon

 

Dairy-free animal milk, butter, yogurt – sponsored by Swedish Glace

Winner:

Woodlands Dairy Gooseberry & Elderflower with Natural Sheep Milk Yoghurt

 

Plant 'milk', spread & cheese – sponsored by Pure Dairy Free

Joint Winners:

CoYo Natural yoghurt

Vegusto Mild Aromatic Dairy-Free Cheese

 

FreeFrom Breakfast Cereals – sponsored by Fria Gluten Free

Winner:

Sainsbury’s – FreeFrom Oaty Granola

 

Gluten-free breads and bread mixes – sponsored by Genius Gluten Free

Winner:

Fria Grova Dark Seeded Sliced Loaf

 

Gluten-free pasta and pizza bases/mixes – sponsored by Tesco

Winner:

Farabella Acini di Pepe/Pasta Grains

 

Freefrom foods manufactured for food service – sponsored by Livwell

Joint Winners:

Red House Foods Gluten Free Chicken Bites

Sauces for Kids Tikka Sauce

 

Freefrom Ingredients – sponsored by Juvela

Joint Winners:

Anila’s Sauces Goan Green Sauce

Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Flour

 

Raw foods and superfoods – sponsored by Asda

Winner:

inSpiral Raw Dehydrated Kale Chips: Cheesie Purple Corn

 

Savoury pies, sausages & ready meals – sponsored by Delamere Dairy

Winners:

Meat-based meal centres: Co-operative Truly Irresistible Minted Lamb Burgers

Pies, flans & pizzas: Gluten Free Kitchen Ovencrust Chicken & Bacon Pie

 

Gluten-free savoury biscuits and snacks – sponsored by Genon Laboratories

Joint Winners:

Darling Spuds Tomato, Olive & Oregano

Juvela Crostini Bites

 

Gluten-free scones, sweet tarts, Bakewells, muffins etc - sponsored by Tesco

Joint Winners:

Sugargrain Almond, Apricot and Tahini Flapjack

Sweetcheeks Almondies

 

Gluten-free cakes and mixes – sponsored by Mrs Crimbles

Joint Winners:

Sweetcheeks Maple & Pecan Cupcakes

The Cake Crusader Gluten, Wheat and Dairy Free Carrot Cake

 

Gluten-free puddings, desserts & cheesecakes – sponsored by Hale & Hearty

Winner:

Food Heaven Sicilian Lemon Cheesecake

 

Dairy/gluten-free chocolate and snack bars – sponsored by Tesco

Winner:

Booja Booja Rum Sozzled Sultana Chocolate Truffles

 

Dairy/gluten-free Christmas foods – sponsored by Produced in Italy

Winner:

Foodamentalists Frangipane mince pies

 

Gluten-free beer – sponsored by Asda

Winner:

Daas Ambre Beer

The FreeFrom Food Awards are now in the fifth very successful year.

They are run by the Foods Matter team who also run a large family websites supporting those with allergies and intolerances  (www.foodsmatter.com) and promoting freefrom food (www.freefromfoodsmatter.com)

Awards judges include food professionals, health professionals, coeliacs and allergy sufferers. For more on the judges and judging processes – see the awards site at http://www.freefromfoodawards.co.uk/judges_judging_12.html

For more on freefrom food and the Freefrom Food Awards – listen to Radio 4’s Food Programme on 18^th March – available at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qnx3

The Freefrom Food Awards and this year’s winners will be showcased at the Allergy+FreeFrom Show at Olympia in May where the inaugural Freefrom Skincare Awards, also run by the Foodsmatter team, will be presented. More information at http://www.skinsmatter.com/freefrom_skin_care_awards/index.html and http://www.allergyshow.co.uk

Full details of Winners, Highly commended and Commended products:

Innovation Award Winner:

Bessant & Drury Fine Ice Cream Co. – Lemon

‘Lovely dairy-free ice creamy substitute – would never have known it was dairy-free – very innovative to use coconut although you would never know as the coconut flavour is held in check by the lemon. Good clean ingredients list, nice zingy fresh taste.’

Highly Commended:

Bessant & Drury Fine Ice Cream Co. – Chocolate
‘Delicious – and hard to achieve such a convincing replacement for chocolate ice-cream – both texture and appearance very authentic.’

CoYo Coconut Milk Yoghurt – Natural

‘Refreshing sharpness – more like whipped cream texture than yogurt – but smooth and creamy and quite amazing for those on dairy and soya-free diets.’

Foodswild Cornish Stingers Nettle Beer

‘Wonderful dry taste like a very pleasant cider – very refreshing but maybe not that much to do with beer?’

Tofutti Ricotta Soya Cheese Alternative

‘Extraordinary concept – works much better cooked than fresh but should be given full marks for innovation.’

Commended:

The Foodamentalists Brown Bread Mix

‘Interesting mix of flours and great to be aiming for such a health-giving profile, high in Omega 3 fatty acids and fibre. The baked loaf has a good deep colour and a nice fresh texture.’
Provamel Botanicals Apple & Green Tea Alternative to Yogurt
‘Subtle flavour and good texture. Nice to see a ‘freefrom’ product moving into the specialist luxury field.

1. Dairy-free animal milk, butter, yogurt – sponsored by Swedish Glace

Winner:

Woodlands Dairy Gooseberry & Elderflower with Natural Sheep Milk Yoghurt

‘Very nice unusual flavour combination for yogurt – lovely elder  and gooseberry notes, mild and thickly good. A winner.’

Highly Commended:

Delamere Dairy Natural Goats Yoghurt

‘Not too goaty, smooth and creamy, great all round product.’

Commended:

Delamere Dairy Goats Butter

‘Delicious creamy butter, nice salt levels.’

 2. Plant 'milk', spread & cheese – sponsored by Pure Dairy Free

Joint Winners:

CoYo Natural yoghurt

‘Looks thick and creamy, yummy aroma – best dairy free yogurt I’ve tried. Very tasty and great that it is both soya free and probiotic. Brilliant.’

Vegusto Mild Aromatic Dairy-Free Cheese

‘Brilliant! So difficult to do both soya and dairy free. Looks like cheese and really cheddary aroma and taste. Really impressed with its cleverness.’

Highly Commended:

Kara Dairy Free Alternative to Milk Original + Calcium

‘Nice milky appearance and texture with a quite neutral flavour – versatile as coconut taste hardly perceptible. Nice short ingredients list – clever product.’

Vegusto Melty Dairy-Free Cheese

‘Excellent – good texture and a good cheesy taste. To be soya and dairy free is very clever. Really believable taste.’

Commended:

Bessant & Drury Fine Ice Cream Co. – Chocolate
‘Great texture, appearance, aroma and taste – well done!’

Bessant & Drury Fine Ice Cream Co. – Lemon

‘Appearance and aroma spot on; fresh inviting lemon tastes if a little sweet. Creamy melts in the mouth.’

Higher Nature Omega Excellence Organic Virgin Coconut Butter
‘Smooth creamy, clear and good. Neutral aroma and hardly any coconut detectable so it would be versatile. Beautiful soft melt in mouth.
Vegusto – Dairy free cheese sauce

‘Surprisingly, no weird flavours! Not exactly cheesy but a tasty savoury sauce works that well with pasta.  Tastes much better than it looks!’

3. FreeFrom Breakfast Cereals – sponsored by Fria Gluten Free

Winner:

Sainsbury’s – FreeFrom Oaty Granola

‘Looks lovely and great healthy oat taste with occasional nut.’ Judges loved the fact that it was only sweetened with apple juice – no sugar – and felt that it really could fill a gap in the market for pure oat based cereals without added sugar.

Commended:

Bob's Red Mill Pure traditional oats

'A premium quality oat with no nasty dust, they are creamy and nutty when cooked. Stand out above the others.' 

Groovy Food Company Choco Crispies
‘Really chocolatey and crunchy – good to see agave syrup rather than sugar.’

Juvela Fibre Flakes
‘Attractive, wholesome and healthy flakes – not too sweet.’ The judges were really pleased to see that this cereal was fortified – important for children whose diet may be deficient in vitamins.

4. Gluten-free breads and bread mixes – sponsored by Genius Gluten Free

Winner:

Fria Grova Dark Seeded Sliced Loaf

‘Lovely nutty texture and malty flavour – a good alternative to granary.’ Judges also liked the caraway seeds and thought it would make excellent sandwich bread.

Highly Commended:

Finax Oat bread Mix

‘Looks like an artisan loaf – lovely real bread texture, a nice crisp crust and good flavour. Very innovative.’

Fria Grov Minibaguette Dark Seeded Roll

‘Smells and looks like part-baked bread – good size and shape for a lunch box – soft pleasant crust, excellent when heated.’

5. Gluten-free pasta and pizza bases/mixes – sponsored by Tesco

Winner:

Farabella Acini di Pepe/Pasta Grains

‘Nice separate grains, good bite, great taste. Excellent as couscous or bulgar wheat  substitute, or in a salad – delicious.’

Highly Commended:

Bob’s Red Mill GF Wholegrain Pizza Crust Mix

‘Like a cross between a flatbread & pizza base – quite bready but decent chewy texture.’

Co-operative FreeFrom Fusilli

‘Excellent look, texture and – would  easily pass as a non free from pasta. Nicely buttery.’

Commended:

Molino di Ferro La Veneziane Penne

‘Good pasta – hard to tell from non-free. Quite soft when cooked – pity they needed additives.

6. Freefrom foods manufactured for food service – sponsored by Livwell

Joint Winners:

Red House Foods Gluten Free Chicken Bites

‘Excellent alternative to chicken nugget; light, crisp and quite tasty and you wouldn’t taste the difference.’

Sauces of Choice - Sauces for Kids Tikka Sauce

‘Very mild but the correct flavour so excellent for kids; marvellous it’s both gluten and dairy free and has a really healthy ingredients list.’

Highly Commended:

Costa Coffee gluten-free fruit cake

‘Great to find a gluten and wheat free cake in a coffee shop! Very moist and plenty of nuts and fruit, if a little sweet.’

Doves Farm Foods Ltd Gluten Free Plain White Flour Blend without Buckwheat
‘Makes an excellent sponge. Great versatile flour – very useful.’

The Foodamentalists Golden Batter Mix

‘Big bonus that this is egg free – but it makes a very light batter maybe more suited to tempura. Very useful.’

Commended:

Doves Farm Foods Ltd Organic Brown Rice Penne

‘Very good catering product – nice texture, hold its shape well.’

Triano Brands Tofutti Grated Mozzarella Soya Cheese Alternative

‘As a melted 'cheese' for a pizza or toasted cheese it is surprisingly good. Extremely useful product for food service.'

7. Freefrom Ingredients – sponsored by Juvela

Joint Winners:

Anila’s Sauces Goan Green Sauce

‘Lovely – attractive, subtle flavours – the coconut milk comes through beautifully. Deep green flavour and fantastic ingredients.’

Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Flour

‘Lovely flour combination – really versatile protein and fibre rich – not at all over powered by the chickpeas.’

Highly Commended:

Mesquite Company Pure Mesquite Pod Flour

‘Great for baking – unusual combination of cocoa and coconut flavours – very nutritious – delicious.’

Commended:

Clearspring Kuzu Gluten Free Starch Thickener

‘Does the job – not sure could really improve on this.’

8. Raw foods and superfoods – sponsored by Asda

Winner:

inSpiral Raw Dehydrated Kale Chips: Cheesie Purple Corn

‘Lovely innovative product – great for children – really healthy and so delicious.’

Highly Commended:

Mesquite Company Pure Mesquite Pod Flour

‘Very interesting product – could be added to anything sweet – yummy cabaret flavour – good dusting for raw truffles.’

Commended:

Beond Organic Acai Berry Bar

‘Lovely fruity flavour – ideal treat for children’

James White Drinks Beet It Organic Stamina Shot

‘Sweet, fresh flavour – great health boost and excellent pick me up.’

9. Savoury pies, flans, sausages and ready meals – sponsored by Delamere Dairy

Meat based meal centres

Winner:

Co-operative Truly Irresistible Minted Lamb Burgers

‘Lamb & mint combo classic – succulent but not overpowering mint – an excellent lamb product.’

Highly Commended:

Black Farmer Pork Meatballs

‘Tender good flavour, peppery meat ball – well seasoned.’

Commended:

Co-operative Truly Irresistible Pork Sausages

‘Good sausage, aroma, texture and flavour – like the sage.’

Pies, flans, pizzas,one pot meals

Winner:

Gluten Free Kitchen Ovencrust Chicken & Bacon Pie

‘Lovely golden pie – great crisp pastry, never know it was gluten free –  and succulent, tasty chicken filling.’

Highly Commended:

Amy’s Kitchen Gluten Free Vegetable Lasagne

‘Very good ingredients, very pleasant flavour and appearance – great to have a freefrom veggie lasagne.’

DS-glutenfree Bonta d’Italia Margherita Pizza

'No thin gf pizzas on the market at all so this one is rather a breakthrough – the crust even tastes woodfired!'

The Food Resource Fusilli al Funghi

‘Good mushroom smell and taste, trim pasta. Great easy-to-cook pouch – great freefrom convenience food.’

Commended:

Easy Bean New Mexican Chilli Fairtrade Red Bean with Sweet Pepper One Pot Meal

‘Very nice – hard to distinguish from a homemade chilli nice – just the right amount of chilli heat.’

Foodamentalists Pork, Black Pudding & Caramelised Red Onion Pie

‘Excellent freefrom hot crust pastry – first there. Pork filling a little too finely chopped – otherwise it would have been a winner.’

stewed! Chickpea, Sweet Potato & Feta One Pot Meal

‘Looked like sunshine – very tasty – really liked that sweet potato.  Good nutritional profile – no artificial ingredients.’

10. Gluten-free savoury biscuits and snacks – sponsored by Genon Laboratories

Joint Winners:

Darling Spuds Tomato, Olive & Oregano Crisps

‘Great to have such a good quality, genuinely gluten-free crisp – very successful combination of flavours.’

Juvela Crostini Bites

‘Look good, smell good, lots of taste and crunch. Not particularly clever or original but a hugely useful convenience product.’

Highly Commended:

Conscious Foods Millet Crackers with Rosemary

‘Lovely looking, very unusual crackers – but slight overkill on the rosemary.’

Darling Spuds Sour Cream with a hint of Mexican Chilli

‘Lovely crisp mild sour cream/mild chilli combination – Kettle style but gluten free!’

11. Gluten-free scones, sweet tarts, Bakewells, muffins etc - sponsored by Tesco

Joint Winners:

Sugargrain Almond, Apricot and Tahini Flapjack

‘Really good flavours with a long finish so each flavour gets its own time and space on the palette. Great quality ingredients.’

Sweetcheeks Almondies

‘Very soft and chewy and lots of almond – fab freefrom product for morning coffee.’

Highly Commended:

Asda gluten-free All Butter Lemon Sicilian Shortbread

‘Really good lemon – light, crisp, buttery and not many ingredients – delicious.’

Co-operative Foods FF Triple Chocolate Cookies

‘Excellent texture, crumble and taste – love the dipped in chocolate base.’

Commended:

Heavenly Cakes Gluten & Wheat Free Millionaires

‘Very large, very milky, sweet, rich and indulgent. A good gluten-free version of an over the top Millionnaires Shortbread.’

Molino di Ferro La Veneziane Coconut Biscotti

‘Lovely, simple, uncomplicated  product – light and sweet and the coconut does not overpower.’

Tesco FF Ginger Cookies

‘Nice gingery hit and good texture. A ‘grown-up’ biscuit; not too sweet – would never know it was freefrom.’

12. Gluten-free cakes and mixes – sponsored by Mrs Crimbles

Joint Winners:

Sweetcheeks Maple & Pecan Cupcakes

‘Delicate, pretty, light and moist – mild pecan flavour – excellent for gluten, wheat and dairy free.’

The Cake Crusader Gluten, Wheat and Dairy Free Carrot Cake

‘Authentic carrot cake icing – great for dairy free; not oversweet, pleasant carrot texture with hint of cinnamon. Taste very home-made.’

Highly Commended:

Incognito Cakes Choc Fudge Cake

‘Good classic chocolate cake – good that it is wheat, gluten and dairy free.’

The Cake Crusader Rich Fruit Cake

‘Very moist – almost Jamaica moist! Excellent that it is not only wheat, gluten and dairy free but egg free. Packed with fruit and well balanced spicing.’

Commended:

Cakes Divine Dairy & Gluten Free Carrot Cupcakes

‘Great combo of flavours for a cupcake, carrot and cinnamon. Nice texture and flavour but very sweet.’

Fria Kladdkaka – Chocolate Brownie Cake

‘Good, soft brownie cake and seriously chocolately ­– bang on for texture and taste.’

Steph’s Free From Cakes Lemon Drizzle Cake

‘Good alternative drizzle cake – lemon flavour just right.’

13. Gluten-free puddings, desserts & cheesecakes – sponsored by Hale & Hearty

Winner:

Food Heaven Sicilian Lemon Cheesecake

‘An amazingly good dessert given that it is free of dairy, wheat, gluten and egg – good tangy lemon flavour. The base was slightly soggy but perfectly pleasant.’

Highly Commended:

Mamma Cucina Mango & Passionfruit Non-Dairy Cheesecake

‘Impressive that it is free of wheat, gluten, dairy and egg.  Base slightly soggy, pleasant quite jelly-like fruity topping.’

Commended:

Tideford Organics Butterscotch Rice Pudding

‘Good wholesome ingredients. Very rich – but classic.’

14. Dairy/gluten-free chocolate and snack bars – sponsored by Tesco

Winner:

Booja Booja Rum Sozzled Sultana Chocolate Truffles

‘Conjures up rum & raisin ice cream memories – a gourmet luxury chocolate – the bitter the cocoa powder dusting makes the inside all the more rich and delicious – very boozy!’

Highly Commended:

Kinnerton Dairy, Egg, Gluten and Nut Free Bar

‘Excellent plain chocolate bar with a surprisingly strong chocolate flavour for only 55% chocolate solids. Excellent that it is nut free. Very versatile.’

Commended:

Conscious Chocolates Essential Orange raw chocolate bar

‘Very smooth, if slightly truffley, texture for a raw chocolate and an excellent clean orange flavour.’

Eskal Foods Chocolate Coated Pretzels

‘Definitely different! Good pretzel, never know it was freefrom; not brilliant chocolate but very interesting product.’

Tickety Boo Cakes Roo’s Crunch

‘Sort of coconut brownie – lovely texture and flavour although a bit short on crunch!’

15. Dairy/gluten-free Christmas foods – sponsored by Produced in Italy

Winner:

Foodamentalists gluten, wheat and dairy-free Frangipane mince pies

‘Nice idea with frangipane topping – looks attractive and appetising – golden and deep-filled. Quite sweet but lovely combination of flavours and good tasty pastry.’

Highly Commended:

Christine’s Gluten-free Rum and ale pudding

‘Delicious rich smell, looks appetising & moist – yummy luxurious mouthful – lots of flavours and a distinctive texture.’

Livwell Gluten, wheat and dairy-free Christmas cake

‘A good classic, moist Christmas cake – plenty of fruit  and the right balance between fruit cake & icing.’

Morrisons FreeFrom Christmas pudding

‘Looks and smells just as it should. Nice, slightly rough texture, and great citrusy flavours. Good that it is gluten and dairy free even though it does not claim the latter on the pack.’

Commended:

Conscious Chocolate Cherry Christmas

‘A very smooth raw chocolate with strong coconut overtones– unusual. The cherries offer a nice contrast.’

Friendly Food and Drink Xmas chutney

‘Definitely a ‘Christmas’ chutney, lots of cranberries and quite sweet but with acidic overtones which would work well with the turkey.’

OK Foods mince pies

‘Unusual but nice, crisp, biscuity pastry with plenty of fruity filling. Good that they are gluten, wheat and dairy free.’

Pyman Pates Chicken liver with port, brandy and cranberries

‘Really excellent smooth, rich chicken liver paté – what a shame it could not also be dairy free!’

16. Gluten-free beer – sponsored by Asda

Winner:

Daas Ambre Beer

‘Deep amber colour, yellow head, fruity aroma, fruity flavour. Good and rounded with a dry finish. Excellent, well-balanced beer.’

Highly Commended:

Daas Blond Beer

‘Clean, refreshing, good body with a nice creamy head. Complex flavour but with a nice dryness – and very strong!’

Green’s Bottle Refermented Dark Ale

‘Very interesting molasses dark treacle flavour but with a pleasing bitter edge. Good mouthfeel and a good dark colour head.’

Commended:

Green’s Premium Golden Ale

‘A good amber colour with a fine head and toffee caramel flavours. A good dry finish – a nice bitter although a little thin.’

Green’s Bottle Refermented Blonde Ale

‘Slight haze, golden colour; hop and malt carbonation gives a happy taste and refreshing acidic fizz.’