Crumbs! Essex bakers in bread Oscars

16 Oct Crumbs! Essex bakers in bread Oscars

Stars of the bread-baking world gathered together at St John’s Church, Hyde Park, London on Tuesday 15 October 2019 for the much-anticipated announcement of the winners of Tiptree World Bread Awards with Brook Food www.worldbreadawards.com

The awards ceremony was hosted by Stephen Hallam, Master Baker, Managing Director of Dickinson & Morris and Chair of the Judges who was delighted to declare Smashed Pumpkin Seed Bread made by Idiko Toth of Cultured Bread Bakery, Woodford Green, as Winner in the hotly-contested Real Bread Campaign sponsored by Shipton Mill category. Paul Barker’s representative was presented with his trophy by Chris Holister, of Shipton Mill.

Meanwhile Chocolate and Chilli Showstopper made by Jane Anderson, of Mayfield Bakery, Old Harlow, was announced as Third in the Tiptree Showstopper category.

“The field was more competitive than ever,” says Hallam, whose fellow judges, all 100 of them, included Apollonia Poilâne of the legendary Paris bakery Poilâne, Dr John Foster of BBC’s Victorian Bakers and Harry Lomas, Executive Head Chef, Wembley Stadium.

Idiko and Jane beat off competition from hundreds of loaves sent in from around the United Kingdom – delivered by courier, taxi and in person on the morning of the judging at Cathedral Hall, Westminster Cathedral, to ensure maximum freshness.

Essex had a big showing on the night, with its top sponsor, Tiptree, the much-loved jam brand, also hailing from the county as well as Carrs Flour from Maldon.

Tiptree World Bread Awards with Brook Food, launched in January 2013, seek to celebrate the very best of British bread baking. “The choice, range and quality of bread in Britain today is immense,” says Caroline Kenyon, Director of the Awards.