The Great Taste Golden Forks awards ceremony held at Battersea Arts Centre on 11 September 2023 saw Greece’s Roussas Dairy crowned as this year’s Great Taste Supreme Champion for its Roussas Galotyri P.D.O. - the highest-scoring food or drink from an astounding 14,195 products.
Great Taste 2023, the largest and most trusted food and drink accreditation scheme in the world, has come to a glittering finale with its Golden Forks ceremony drawing a star-studded gathering of chefs, buyers, industry experts, producers, and influencers.
Roussas Dairy, based in Attica, Greece, was crowned this year’s Great Taste Supreme Champion for its Roussas Galotyri P.D.O., a soft Greek cheese made from sheep and goats’ milk. The Great Taste Supreme Champion is the most prestigious award for taste in the world. Each year there is only one: the highest-scoring product in the Great Taste accreditation scheme.
Louise Allen, buyer from Whole Foods Market, judged the Roussas Galotyri P.D.O. during the Great Taste 3-star final panel process and commented, “This cheese is beautifully light and creamy. It’s so versatile – even simply spread on toast it would be absolutely delicious.”
Ravneet Gill, chef, food judge and TV presenter, also said: “I would love this in my fridge. You could serve it in so many ways – gorgeous.”
John Farrand, managing director at the Guild of Fine Food comments: “It’s no wonder this delightful soft cheese from Roussas Dairy has taken the top spot in this year’s Great Taste. It was a real conversation starter in the judging room, complimented for its delicate yet zingy taste, beautiful appearance, and “utter moreishness”. Each year we see cheese, meats, and fish doing very well in Great Taste, and this year is no exception.
“I am not surprised to see such a simple, but well-made product taking home the Supreme Champion crown this year. Every year is different, palates change, flavour fashions evolve, and new products and trends do well, but the quality will always shine through. It is such an honour to award Roussas Dairy this accolade and to recognise all the other outstanding producers that have won stars across the globe this year.”
Roussas Dairy was founded in 1952 by the Roussas Family and built its reputation on premium feta production. The family adheres to traditional methods of production and recipes are based on secrets that have been passed down from their nomadic forefathers, the Sarakatsani. All Roussas Dairy products are made exclusively from pasteurized sheep and goats’ milk, primarily from the surrounding mountainous areas.
For more information about this year’s Supreme Champion, please visit www.roussas.gr. To purchase, please visit Odysea Ltd www.odysea.com.
Roussas Galotyri P.D.O was among sixteen top-scoring products in the running for the 2023 Great Taste Supreme Champion, sponsored by Food & Drink Wales. Those in the running included:
· Sour Cherry Molasses from Belazu Ingredient Company
· Dorset Coppa from Capreolus Fine Foods
· Jamón de Tudanca from Carniceria Quintana
· Anchoas del Cantábrico en Mantequilla Ecológica from Conservas M.A. Revilla
· Colombia El Placer "Yellow Fruits" from Dark Woods Coffee
· DYB Naturally Brewed Brown Soybean Soy Sauce from DoYouBo Industry Co.
· Fino Dark Balsamic (Crema) from Fino
· Wagyu Beef & Ale Pie from Martins
· Pistachio Ice Cream from Mauds Ice Creams
· Bagoila Cold Pressed Pumpkin Seed Oil from Natur Press Team
· Roussas Galotyri P.D.O from Roussas Dairy
· Silver Hill Confit Duck Legs from Silver Hill Duck
· Saicho Hojicha Sparkling Tea from Saicho Drinks
· Mrs Bell's Blue from Shepherds Purse Cheeses
· Ice Cyder from The Newt in Somerset
· English Heritage Toffee Apple Curd from Thursday Cottage.
Thirteen other Great Taste Golden Fork trophies were also awarded on the night:
Great Taste Golden Fork from England – Belazu Ingredient Company for its Sour Cherry Molasses
Great Taste Golden Fork from Scotland – Loch Fyne Oysters for its Loch Fyne Kinglas Fillet
Great Taste Golden Fork from Wales – Hive Mind Mead & Brew Co. for its Wye Valley Meadery Traditional Mead
Great Taste Golden Fork from Northern Ireland – Mauds Ice Creams for its Pistachio Ice Cream
Great Taste Golden Fork from Ireland – Silver Hill Duck for its Silver Hill Confit Duck Legs
Great Taste Golden Fork from Spain – Fino for its Fino Dark Balsamic (Crema)
Great Taste Golden Fork from Greece – Roussas Dairy for its Roussas Galotyri P.D.O.
Great Taste Golden Fork from Italy – Caseificio Il Fiorino for its Cacio di Afrodite
Great Taste Golden Fork from the Rest of Europe – Natur Press Team for its Bagoila Cold Pressed Pumpkin Seed Oil
Great Taste Golden Fork from the Rest of World – DoYouBo Industry Co. for its DYB Naturally Brewed Brown Soybean Soy Sauce
Great Taste Startisan of the Year – La Maritxu for its La Maritxu Basque Cheesecake
Nigel Barden Heritage Award – The Newt in Somerset for its Ice Cyder
In addition, the Guild of Fine Food awarded Silvija Davidson with its annual Guild of Fine Food Contribution to Food & Drink.
