FreeFrom Eating Out Awards closes entry for 2014

Entry to the FreeFrom Eating Out Awards, sponsored by Sodexo, has now closed for 2014 with organisers thrilled at the excellent standard of entries.

With the exception of the schools, colleges and university category (sponsored by Thomas Ridley) which closes at the end of September to accommodate the academic year, the inaugural FreeFrom Eating Out Awards closed for entry on Sunday night (31 August).

The organisers have been surprised and delighted by the allergen awareness and the care and imagination shown by most of the entrants in catering for those either needing or wanting to eat out ‘freefrom’.

They have noticed that:

• A significant number of restaurants, pubs, cafés and B&Bs are choosing to go entirely gluten or even gluten and dairy free – thereby avoiding all issues of contamination and confusion which cause so much trouble when wishing to serve allergen-free freefrom food.

• Unsurprisingly, many of the more enthusiastic outlets are run by those who either have a dietary problems themselves or have a family member with an allergy or coeliac disease.

• While many entrants are individual owner-run cafés and restaurants, the bigger food operatives are also getting involved with several nationwide chains offering comprehensive ‘freefrom’ menus backed up by excellent allergen management protocols.

Very pleasingly, several entrants have already commented on how they had learnt from the entry forms about extra allergen control measures they could implement – while the organisers have also found much to learn in the answers to some of the questions!

Judging

• Entrants’ forms now go forward to a panel of experienced coeliac and allergic judges for assessment.

• Potentially award-winning entries will then be telephoned, incognito by our judges, to discuss their requirements as a ‘freefrom’ guest and to assess how well the outlet could deal with their needs.

• On the basis of their answers the judges will decide whether entrant may be an award winner and should be shortlisted. A shortlist will be published in early October.

• Potential finalists will then be visited, incognito, by judges to check out not only their allergen awareness on the ground – but the quality of their food!

• The presentations to the winners will be made on the 18th November at the Food Matters Live Event at Excel.

For more information please visit the website, FreeFrom Eating Out Awards – or talk to Michelle on 020 7722 2866 or email michelle@foodsmatter.com. Sponsors of the FreeFrom Eating Out Awards Headline sponsors Sodexo Category Sponsors Green’s gluten-free Beers Nairn’s Riso Gallo Thomas Ridley Cloud sponsors Food Freedom Celia Venice Bakery BFree Glebe Farm Food allergy Aware Allergy Aware Kitchen

Partners in the FreeFrom Eating Out Awards project include leading names in both food service and the allergy/coeliac world such as Brakes, 3663, Horizons, Coeliac UK, the Anaphylaxis Campaign and the Sustainable Restaurant Association.