by Martin Jefferies

Thanet is a tasty place to live according to judges at the Taste of Kent Awards, who have shortlisted five of the area's food and drink businesses for prizes at this year's ceremony.

More than 10,000 people voted for their favourite local produce, retailers, restaurants, pubs and farmers' markets, giving experts more than 680 candidates to chose from.

Ramsgate-based J C Rook and Sons proved to be a cut above the rest by making it to the final five of the Kent Butcher or Meat Producer of the Year category, while Ramsgate Brewery is in the running for the Best Kentish Beer award.

The town's two other nominations come in the Kent Seafood Retailer of the Year and Kent Food Producer of the Year categories for fishmonger Eddie Gilbert's and frozen Indian food specialists The Chai Stop (pictured above) respectively.

Cliftonville Farmers' Market, which has been shortlisted for the Kent Farmers' Market of the Year award, is Thanet's final nominee.

Julie Monkman (pictured above), manager of Produced in Kent, which stages the annual awards ceremony, said: "These awards are seen as the ultimate mark of food and drink excellence in the Garden of England and despite the challenging economic times we're all facing, Kent has voted with its taste buds!

"Local consumers have demonstrated that outstanding local food and drink quality is what really counts when they're shopping or dining out."

The five local companies and organisations now face an agonising wait whilst expert panels of judges, mystery shoppers and mystery diners select the overall winners in each category.

The Taste of Kent Awards will be presented at a prestigious ceremony and dinner in the Fairfax Hall at Leeds Castle, near Maidstone, next month.