2018 Observer Food Monthly Awards

The 2018 Observer Food Monthly Awards were presented last evening at a gala held at the Freemasons’ Hall in London. The awards celebrate the best in food across the UK, highlighting the work of celebrity chefs as well as local producers and eateries. There are 10 categories of reader awards, plus six other categories judged by a professional panel.

Without further ado, let’s turn to the evening’s winners. We’ll begin with the awards and people who are near and dear to the hearts of EYB Members. Anna Jones took home the prize for Best New Cookbook for her latest, The Modern Cook’s Year. The Best Instagram Feed winner was Julie Jones of Soulful Baker, and food writer Jack Monroe went home with the Best Food Personality award. Chef and cookery writer Simon Hopkinson received a well-earned Lifetime Achievement award.

Some of the awards honored those who used food as a medium for doing good works. Randeep Singh and Manpreet Lall from Nishkam Swat, were winners of the Outstanding Achievement award for their work feeding the homeless. Ryan Riley (who we profiled earlier this year), took home the prize for Best Ethical Food Project for his organization Life Kitchen. Hannah McAdam and Janine Waters of the Dressing Room Cafe in Chorlton, were winners of the Local Food Hero award for their work with adults with learning disabilities.

You can see the complete list of winners, including the Best Restaurant, Best Producer, and Best Independent Retailer, at The Guardian’s Observer Food Monthly website.