Eat & Drink
Originally published on Tuesday, 26th July 2011
Young British Foodies
A new award searches for the next generation of gastropreneurs
This will be the year of the foodie. Mark our words.
Year on year, the gastro-centric trend has been gaining momentum both in London and throughout the world. And we’re proving that we really do have one of the best culinary scenes in the world. Finally.
20 years ago, the emerging British art scene got its YBAs. We rallied around them, championing and debating their merits variously – and now look at them: Emin with her showcase at the Hayward, the Chapmans and their children’s book…
And now that some of our favourite gastropreneurs are growing up too (Paul Young has his Soho flagship; Lily Vanilli, once the doyen of fleeting cake appearances, her own cute café in Columbia Road; even jelly crazies Bompas and Parr just curated a rooftop at Selfridges) and gastro trends like pop-ups, supper clubs and speakeasies have become part of the culinary mainstream, the time is ripe to discover the next generation of the gastronomic avant-garde.
Introducing the Young British Foodies awards (YBFs – see what they did there?): a search for the next generation. Judges include Nuno Mendes for chefing, Bompas and Parr for experimentation, Tony C for alcohol, #meateasy’s Yianni Pepoutsis for charcuturie, and more über-specialists besides.
These are the big boys of today’s foodie movement. And with mentors like that, the gastro-future of this fair city is looking particularly bright. Not to mention rather tasty.
Info
The YBFs are open for entries now.
For more information visit the-YBFs.com