The Free From Food Awards Ceremony 2013

Michelle in full flow

The invite to the Free From Food Awards 2013 dropped into my inbox and I was all of a dither.

Should I hire a limo? Are dresses long or short this season? And which hip thrust forward will give maximum slimness on the red carpet?

I know. I live in cloud cuckoo land.

So, on the evening of the awards, my date and I joined other smartly clad ladies as we tottered around in heels - sans limo - trying to find the entrance to the Royal College of Physicians.

And as we ascended the marble stairs, there was the jewel in the crown. No, not Anthony Worral-Thompson, but the fragrant Michelle Berriedale-Johnson and her unfailingly calm assistant, Cressida.

How those women were still standing after weeks of organising food judging and then an awards ceremony, was a mystery.

But they were in fine fettle and Michelle kicked the evening off with a speech and the promise of a buffet at the end, comprised of the winning foods.

Can you spot me?!

It was when Michelle mentioned the buffet that at least one person in the audience thought they hadn't won an award. This was because Michelle hadn't placed an order for his product. The man in question said:

 "So we definitely haven’t won. Just as well really, I’m p**sed already."

And no I can’t tell you who it was because a journalist can never reveal her sources. Wink.

And so the winners in all categories were announced and happy free from food producers received their certificates and had their pic taken with Anthony Worral-T.

Huge congrats to Bessant and Drury for winning the FAIR trophy for the best free from food 2013 with their lemon ice cream and big cheer for Pudology whose Banoffee Pudding was highly commended.

I was amazed at the range of fab products that were runners up or winners. In particular the gluten free Aloo Paratha from the Indian Coeliac looks amazing. It's also egg free, nut free and soy free.

I also like the look of this white chocolate couverture from Mortimer chocolate company.    Mainly because I used to love white chocolate mice as a kid and how cool would it be to make them dairy free?

And finally, with summer maybe happening sometime before Christmas, how cool are the Eskal gluten free party tubs?  I'm itching to try these because I once saw a cake baked in an ice cream cone. Random, but delicious.

The last food judges standing (I look relatively sober)

And after the awards presentation, I have to confess that the rest of the ceremony was a little - umm - blurry.

I cannot tell a lie, I imbibed a little white wine. I remember a thoroughly enjoyable conversation with Grace Cheetham and I also remember being flushed and probably not very coherent.

And remember the guy who was p**sed and thought he wouldn't win?

Well, Michelle and Cressida had placed an order undercover and his sausages scooped the prize. He unleashed a mighty roar when the decision was announced and cheered all the way to the podium.

Definitely the funniest moment of the evening.

And according to his Facebook page, his carousing carried on into the early hours. Snigger.

Well done Pig and Co, your name is fab!

Julian Price from Pig & Co. Celebrating demurely

For a full list of winners and runners up, visit the Free From Food Awards website.

Thanks to Media Wisdom Photography for the photo links 

© Pig in the Kitchen All Rights Reserved