THE Sussex Food and Drink Awards 2019, which launches in September, has opened its first category for entries.

The popular Sussex Street Food of the Year category is now open for its fourth year and calls for businesses based in Sussex who offer great food to be eaten in a mobile situation and who fly the flag for ingredients made in the county.

The panel of judges will be looking for an exciting business creating artisan dishes with care, passion and true dedication to using quality local Sussex ingredients.

Hilary Knight is co-director of Natural Partnerships CIC, who run the awards as a not-for-profit scheme to boost the local and artisan food and drink industry.

She said: “We’re looking for amazing and creative food served from individually styled and attractive units with a clear message about what’s on offer.

“The winner should be someone who demonstrates responsibility for the environment and food hygiene and sources as many local ingredients as possible.”

Sussex Street Food of the Year finals will be held in Horsham Carfax on October 21 from 10am until 4pm.

Sponsors of this category, Horsham District Foodies supported by Food Rocks, will be organising the competition and market day, where the public get to vote for their favourite to win.

Entrance is free and visitors will be able to enjoy live music, boutique shopping, pop up bars and artisan products, whilst soaking up the foodie atmosphere as ten of the very best Sussex street food vendors battle it out to see who wins the coveted trophy.

All winners and runners up will go on to receive their awards on May 15 2019 at a BAFTA-style awards ceremony hosted by Sally Gunnell OBE and Danny Pike from BBC Sussex.

It includes a spectacular seven-course Sussex produce banquet produced by Sodexo Prestige at the Amex Stadium.

This is the criteria for entering Sussex street food of the year: ‘Offering great food to be eaten in a mobile situation from an individually styled and attractive unit with a clear message about what’s on offer.

‘Someone who demonstrates responsibility for the environment and food hygiene and sources as many local ingredients as possible.

]Must attend at least three events in Sussex from April to October 2017.’

Go to www.sussexfoodawards.biz now to enter your Street Food business.

This year’s event was held on Wednesday February 7 at the Amex Community Stadium in Brighton.

The glittering 12th awards ceremony saw 400 leaders in the food, drink and farming industry gather together for what is dubbed as ‘the Sussex foodie event of the year’, celebrating the cream of Sussex food and drink producers.

Guests were treated to a wonderful ‘Sussex bubbly and ale reception’, sponsored by NFU Mutual Pulborough, with Harveys Ale, Carr Taylor sparkling wine, Wobblegate apple juice and Brighton Gin accompanied by canapés from The Naked Food Company.

This was followed by a seven-course banquet created by stadium caterers Sodexo Prestige, using the very best local and seasonal ingredients.

Paula Seager said at the time: “We are incredibly proud of the Sussex Food and Drink Awards and want to wish our 2018 winners, grand finalists and finalists our warmest congratulations.

“The line up was hugely impressive this year and the awards are all about celebrating our Sussex food and drink heroes – we know the future is bright for all of them.

“Several new sponsors and supporters have come on board this year alongside our loyal, longstanding partners.

“We want to thank them all for sharing a vital role in making these awards such a great success again in 2018.”