We are proud to be a first-time award and guide supporter for the Trencherman’s Guide 2024.
In September 2023, Classic Fine Foods UK expanded into the Southwest with the opening of a new Hub in Exeter. This expansion was part of the plan to be able to cover all the areas in the UK and provide our premium service to the best restaurants and hotels in the country. The new hub in the Southwest was a big achievement and another great milestone for the growth of Classic Fine Foods UK.
We’ve partnered with Trencherman’s to reenforce our presence in the Southwest so that more chefs can have access to the best ingredients and produce, including premium pastry ingredients, fine meat and poultry, fresh fruit and vegetables and many other fine food ingredients like caviar and kitchen staples.
In its 31st year now and endorsed by some of the very best chefs including Michael Cains now as Trencherman’s chairman. The Trencherman’s Guide is an exclusive club with listings in the Southwest only by invitation based on scores from Michelin Guide, AA Guide and their very own inspectors.
On Monday 29th April the Trencherman’s Guide 2024 Awards was held in the rolling valleys of Dartmoor National, at the sensational Bovey Castle Hotel. Hosted by Trencherman’s editor Abi Manning and Salt Media editorial director Jo Rees, the night had a vintage-country house party themed ceremony. Guests enjoyed a multi-course dinner cooked by Bovey Castle’s head chef Mark Budd, Scott Paton of Àclèaf, Prawn on the Lawn chef-owner Rick Toogood and Andrew Swann of The Castle at Taunton.
Classic Fine Foods supported these chefs to craft an exquisite four-course feast by supplying West Country Lamb and Bonemasters Stock for the main course and Valrhona chocolate for the dessert.
- Starter: goat’s cheese mousse with rhubarb, apple, pistachio and sourdough chafe by Andrew Swann of The Castle at Taunton, Somerset.
- Fish course: hand-dived scallop with cucumber, shaoxing dressing and crispy szechuan oil by Rick Toogood of Prawn on the Lawn, Cornwall.
- Main: best end of lamb with roscoff onion, English peas and lamb fat mash by Mark Budd of Bovey Castle Hotel, Devon.
- Dessert: honey, apricot and elderflower by Scott Paton of Àclèaf, Devon.
We were thrilled to sponsor the award for the Best Trencherman’s Hotel 2024, with our very own Managing Director, Olivier Batel, presenting the award to this year’s winner. The winner was Scarlet Hotel, an eco-sanctuary on the rugged Cornish clifftops with an Ayurvedic inspired Spa.
Congratulations to all the winners and finalists, it was great to be a first-time sponsor of this event!
Olivier was joined at the Awards by our National Sales Manager Krishna Quarrell and the Exeter Hub team; Chris Gillard (Area Commercial Manager) and Charlotte Penwill (Account Manager).
