LOCAL food heroes have been celebrated, following a year in which the Tour de France put Yorkshire produce firmly on the global map.

At the Flavours of Herriot Awards held in Thirsk on Friday (November 21), tourism chief Gary Verity told the finalists the exposure of the race will continue to pay rich dividends for Yorkshire’s culinary economy.

Mr Verity praised the area’s food and drink business at the award ceremony at Thirsk Racecourse and described how it had found greater global appreciation thanks to the Grand Depart, including from race director Christian Prudhomme himself.

Mr Prudhomme famously described the tour’s three days in Britain as “amazing, unforgettable and the grandest Grand Depart ever”

Mr Verity told the audience: “A large part of the incredible feedback we had from visitors who came for the Tour de France said the food and drink they had here and Yorkshire hospitality blew them away.

“I saw it first hand in my kitchen the first time Christian Prudhomme came round on a recce.

“He turned to me and he said: “This food is better than we eat in France, it’s unbelievable; how come the bad reputation of the English food in France? He said: “It’s incredible this food; I’m going to tell my wife”. He said it every time he’s been back.

“We have had that feedback every time from visitors.”

Speaking after the event, Mr Verity said the race had improved global awareness of North Yorkshire, and local businesses were seeing the effect.

“The Tour de France has really ramped up the knowledge internationally.

“Local businesses have noticed the effect. If you talk to a lot of accommodation providers, they have probably double the bookings that we would expect at this stage of the year. We expect a big dividend for next year.”

The awards were designed to celebrate Hambleton and Richmondshire’s food and drinks industry. Top chef Stephanie Moon, who had helped design the menu for the start of the Tour de France in Yorkshire, presented the awards.

The head of a chef consultancy business, who his well-known for her many television appearances, grew up on a farm in Yorkshire. Among the award-winners were Ampleforth Abbey, makers of Ampleforth ales and ciders, who won best drinks producer and Yorebridge House in Bainbridge, which won best restaurant of the year.

Tennants of Leyburn Auction House won best attraction catering of the year and Berry’s Farm Shop in Leyburn won best farm shop, while the Black Bull at Moulton won dining pub of the year.

The winners included some past finalists and also a number of newcomers, including Rounton Coffee Roasters at East Rounton and Samantha Palliser, who has been landlady at the Dog and Gun in Knayton for the past year and won customer service personality of the year.

Mr Verity was also awarded an Outstanding Achievement award.