THE crème de la crème of the county's food and hospitality industry was announced this week - with local businesses featuring prominently among the accolades.

THE crème de la crème of the county's food and hospitality industry was announced this week - with local businesses featuring prominently among the accolades.

At the EDP Norfolk Food Awards, in association with the Ramada Norwich Hotel, the Massingham Dabbling Duck won the food pub category, while Norfolk Farmhouse Ice Cream from North Tuddenham won the Plough to Plate award.

Runners-up included North Elmham Bakery (baker of the year), Fakenham farmers' market and M and M Rutland, Melton Constable (butcher of the year).

The gala dinner and awards ceremony was the culmination of months of judging that began back in March with readers nominating the people and businesses that they felt were the true culinary stars of Norfolk.

This is the seventh food awards and this year saw a record number of nominations - more than 2,500.

The event, which was hosted by Chris Bailey, with special guest Chris Coubrough, the star of ITV Anglia's Coastal Kitchen series and owner of the Crown Hotel, at Wells, and The Crown Inn at East Rudham.

Peter Waters, deputy editor of the EDP, said: “Norfolk has a thriving food industry, from producers and growers through to retailers and hospitality venues, and these awards are a great way of highlighting that fact as well as giving recognition to some of our unsung heroes.

“The awards are the Oscars of Norfolk's food scene and are just another example of the EDP's commitment to supporting local businesses and highlighting what a diverse and vibrant county we live in.”