Eat In awards a feast of South African foodies

This year, Eat In and RMB Private Bank initiated South Africa's first-ever awards to recognise small producers whose integrity, care for the environment, passion and innovation are putting SA on the international food map, and the outlets - from stores to markets - which give these producers significant support.

Eat In readers lent their support by nominating outstanding produce and suppliers throughout the year, and the winners were chosen in a closely contested session by a highly qualified four-member judging panel - chef and food editor Dorah Sithole, trends forecaster Neville Trickett, food alchemist and consultant Peter Goffe-Wood, and Eat In editor Justine Drake. The awards were presented at a lavish lunch at Shoga restaurant in Cape Town in October 2006, when chef Mike Bassett served a meal using all the winning products plus a few other Eat In favourites. The lunch also marked the launch of the 2007 issue of Eat In, South Africa's undisputed 'foodie' guide to home eating and entertaining.