The Caroline Walker Trust Awards showcase the passion, courage and conviction of those who work to improve the quality of our food and nation’s health. The winners of the 2019 awards were announced on 12th November and we were delighted to see so many innovative women amongst the nominees, many of whom are challenging the status quo in the field of nutrition and public health.

Chocolate is a treat for many and generally makes us feel good, but it may not always be sourced from a good place. Tony’s Chocolonely is a brand which aims to bring about slave free chocolate.  Our co-founder Mecca Ibrahim caught up with Nicola Matthews, their Marketing manager in the UK and Ireland to find out more about Tony’s work,  what they are doing to make their slave-free chocolate mission global and how they balance that serious mission with their bright, bold and somewhat crazy products.

We had the wonderful opportunity to catch up with Olivia Burt, Sous Chef at Claridge’s, who is competing in MasterChef The Professionals on BBC2.  Olivia was also the only female chef to make the finals of the Roux Scholarship.  Our co-founder, Mecca Ibrahim, recently spoke to Olivia about her experience on MasterChef The Professionals and what it’s like cooking on a national TV show.

At time when the UK has never felt more divided what, if anything, can we learn from how women in times of war dealt with great change and everyday issues such as food shortages.  Women in the Food Industry co-founder, Mecca Ibrahim, turned to a battered second hand book – The Home Front – The Best of Good Housekeeping 1939-1945 for guidance.

One person who is working constantly on innovation in the food and foodtech industry is Lesley Stonier, Chief Marketing Officer of Forward Fooding. The organisation works to help create partnerships between established food organisations and startups to create a brighter future of food.  Our co-founder Mecca Ibrahim caught up with Lesley to find out more about her work, the Food Tech 500 and what we can learn from big food brands.

Expect the unexpected.  If you’re a fan of food and food photography, you may be excited to hear there is a new exhibition at The Photographers’ Gallery in London, exploring the rich history of food photography.  Our co-founder, Mecca Ibrahim, went along to Feast for The Eyes, with a number of expectations. Discover what she thought of gallery’s take on the development of food photography and the artistic, social and political contexts that have influenced it.

In September 2019 renowned culinary institute, Le Cordon Bleu London announced the winner of their coveted Julia Child Scholarship. Bianca Tia Mesuria from Hackney in London went home with the title after beating off immense competition for the prize. Our co-founder Mecca Ibrahim caught up with her to find out more about the competition, meeting baking legend Mary Berry and appearing on BBC Saturday Kitchen Live.

The SquareMeal Female Chef of the Year award was launched in 2018 to celebrate the huge contribution female chefs are making to the UK restaurant industry.  On 21st October 2019 Skye Gyngell chef-patron of Spring and culinary director of Heckfield Place became the second winner of the title. Skye was presented with her award at a Champagne reception at The Goring in Belgravia for the shortlisted chefs.

The winners of the annual Observer Food Monthly Awards were announced on 17th October 2019.  Celebrating the best in food and drink, the awards are voted for by both readers and a panel of judges. Hosted by Nigella Lawson and Jay Rayner 17 awards were presented at The Freemasons Hall in London. Discover some of the amazing women who picked up accolades. 

From October 21st to 22nd, dozens of exceptional chefs will descend on Food On The Edge in Galway City to dissect topics impacting the future of food. The annual symposium founded by Michelin-starred chef JP McMahon is now in its fifth year and features a host of amazing chefs and change-makers over two busy days. Food writer Chloe King will be attending and previewed some of the highlights. 

With diner demand for eating out with a minimal impact on the planet and at a time when the climate crisis is making headlines like never before, the finalists for Food Made Good Awards 2019 have been revealed. The awards recognise the restaurants, foodservice businesses and people whose accomplishments have driven progress in the industry and demonstrate that all food can be made delicious, ethical and sustainable.  45 finalists who are making a difference in the food industry are on the shortlist for this year’s awards run by The Sustainable Restaurant Association.

Acclaimed chef Léa Linster won a Michelin star in 1987 and owns three restaurants in Luxembourg: Restaurant Léa Linster, Au Quai de la Gare and Kaschthaus. She became a gold medal winner of the 1989 Bocuse d’Or, which made her the first  and to date only woman to ever accomplish this.  Our co-founder, Mecca Ibrahim, was lucky enough to speak to Mrs Linster about her inspirations and how she put Luxembourgian cuisine on a global map with her achievements.