The New Zealand Guild of Foodwriters is pleased to announce the winners of the Culinary Quills 2009 Awards following the awards dinner on Friday 16th October at Church Rd Winery, Hawkes Bay, as part of our biennial conference. Altogether 72 entries from 39 writers were received for the 2009 awards. The executive committee congratulates the winners.

Winners of the 2009 Culinary Quills (in no particular order)

Book of the Year – Food:

Helen Leach (Dunedin), The Pavlova Story
Other finalists: Jill Brewis (Auckland) for The Grower’s Cookbook; Lauraine Jacobs (Auckland), Matakana.

Recipe Book of the Year:

Alexa Johnston, Auckland, Ladies a Plate
Other finalists: Allyson Gofton. Bake (Auckland); Annabel Langbein Eat Fresh (Auckland)

Electronic Media Award:

Food in a Minute
Other finalists: foodlovers.co.nz; Peta Unplugged

Gastronomy Award:

Charmian Smith (Dunedin), Following a Fragrant Trail
Other finalists: Denise Irvine, Hamilton); Great pie-cart rolls on (Ray McVinnie Auckland). Sweet as (Kumara)

Educational, health and Nutrition Award:

Glenda Gourley (Tauranga, If you can bake a potato, you can make a meal)
Other finalists: David Burton (Wellington)Pen or Pasture; Sarah la Touche (Waiheke),Of pith and peel

Food Styling Award:

Ginny Grant (Auckland), Raspberry Ripple Semifreddo Slider
Other finalist: Catherine Bell, Auckland Mozzarella salads

Tui Flower Recipe Award:

Ray McVinnie (Auckland), Off the Hook
Other finalists: Annie Bastow, Loafing about. Auckland; Fiona Smith Auckland, Rule the roast; Ginny Grant Auckland .Rice reigns

Emerging Food Writer:

Virgil Evetts (Auckland) for A Very Special Blossom which examined the free range debate.
Runner up: Lea Paykel (Auckland) for Coastal Caviar
Third finalist: Sally Ronaldson (Wellington, Juicy, Succulent Berries from Piopio

Award Categories

Book of the Year Award/ Recipe

Award for a recipe-led book that inspires the reader to cook. Judging will take into account the target market, clarity, accuracy and simplicity of recipes and method, the degree of innovation where applicable and the relevance of any pictorial material.
Note: Books entered must have been published and be available for retail purchase.

Electronic Media Award

Award for the best radio or television programme; or internet website; or CD Rom that has food as its primary subject. Judging will consider how well the electronic media serves the target audience, the quality and integrity of content, production and visual presentation. Entries must be accompanied by a target market profile.
Note: Where the work was produced through a team approach, e.g. where a chef, stylist, producer, editor etc were also involved, the award will be made to the team that produces the winning entry rather than to the individual food writer

Emerging Food Writer Award

Award for news or feature writing on a food or food related topic, open to potential food writers, including journalism students and food and catering students at tertiary institutes. Judging will take into account the quality of both content and writing. Entrants do not need to be Guild members.
Work submitted need not have been published but the entry form must be accompanied by written confirmation that the work is substantially that of the entrant.

Visual- Food Stylist Award

Award with the emphasis on food styling. While it is recognised that the end picture is the result of collaboration between the stylist and a photographer the judges will be looking at the skill of the food stylist. Entries will be judged in the context of published work i.e. submit entry as published. Entries can include labels.
Promotional entries must be accompanied by the brief worked to in the execution of the photographs and signed off by the client or advertising agency. Non-promotional entries must be accompanied by a target market profile.

Educational, Health and Nutrition Food Writing Award

Award for informative writing that contributes most to the understanding of a food, health, nutrition, and/or a food issue of public interest. Judging will take into account the quality of the content and writing, balance and integrity, evidence of investigative reporting and integrity/soundness of the information.

Journalism Award NO Award this year

Book of the Year Award

Award for a book about food, or food in association with wine, travel, memoir, history or culture.
Emphasis must be on food rather than recipes. Judging will take into account content, style, originality and the relevance of any pictorial material.
Note: Books entered must have been published and be available for retail purchase.

Tui Flower Recipe Award
Award for recipe-led work that inspires the reader to cook. This can be an article, brochure or radio programme. Judging will take into account the clarity, integrity, accuracy and simplicity of the recipe and method, degree of innovation where applicable and the relevance to the target market.

Gastronomy Award

Award for an article or feature about food or food in association with wine, travel, history or culture. Emphasis must be on food rather than recipes. Judging will take into account the content and style, the informative nature of the content and the relevance of any pictorial material.

The NZGFW began in 1987 as a networking base for food journalists and others involved in writing about, presenting, promoting, illustrating, and teaching about the specialist area of food and beverages.

Full list of 2007 winners.

Full list of 2005 winners.

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