Award winning artisan baking shortlisted for award

An award winning artisan baking business are celebrating after being nominated for a prestigious accolade at this year’s delicious. magazine Produce Awards.

Family run Burtree Puddings based near Darlington have been shortlisted by the national food magazine for their Gluten-free Christmas pudding, which has been recognised in the North East category.

The awards, which celebrate the best of Britain’s producers, growers and farmers have become synonymous with recognising great artisan producers from across the UK and use a panel of well-known and respected chefs and food writers to judge the awards.

The regional panel of judges were impressed by the provenance of the company’s ingredients and the commitment to their product, and remarked on the family’s passion for what they do.  Entrants were expected, among other criteria, to demonstrate respect for the land and environment and passion for their craft and area.

Burtree Puddings was started as a farm diversification project in 2000 by Lea and Robert Darling and the award-winning business now supplies numerous independent outlets including farm shops, delis and food stores across England, Scotland and Wales.

Having beat off stiff competition from hundreds of entrants, Burtree Puddings will compete against 69 other businesses at the national final which is due to take place at a ceremony in London this July.

Their gluten-free Christmas pudding will be featured on a page on the delicious. website and will be sold through the magazine’s soon to be launched online shop.

Lea, who created the recipe for the pudding with help from Robert, said they are immensely pleased to make the finals for the national awards.

“We work very hard to perfect the recipes for all our products, and this gluten-free Christmas pudding is no exception to that.  Robert prepares and makes all these puddings with the help of two others, and we’re simply chuffed that our pudding has caught the eye of regional judges out of all the fabulous produce in our region.

“We make three different types of Christmas puddings and this one is also very popular with gluten eaters so it’s a huge compliment to be commended for it.”