IT'S not going to be easy for our Eat Local judges. This region has some of the best food producers and outlets around. That is evident from the number of awards already dished out to food businesses in these parts.

The fact that diners are spoilt for choice was underlined by the Good Food Guide 2003, published last month. The Blue Bicycle on Fossgate received a top rating of five stars, and Melton's Too, in nearby Walmgate, got in the guide even though it opened only last year.

In the same guide the Star Inn at Harome, near Helmsley, won the national Dining Pub of the Year award for the second time in three years.

Judges praised its use of home-grown herbs' and vegetables. It was another accolade to add to many accrued by the Star; earlier this year it won a Michelin star.

Another pub famed for its great grub is the Crab and Lobster at Asenby, near Thirsk. It was Britain's Seafood Pub of the Year 2000 and was named as Restaurant of the Year by the Good Pub Guide three times in the past decade.

Meanwhile, foodie pub the Appletree Inn at Marton, near Pickering, beat thousands of pubs across the country to be named Customer Service Pub of the Year in April. And the high quality food and drink served at the Providence Inn, Malton, led to its being awarded membership of the Guild of Mastercraftsmen.

But it is not only the food in local pubs that is worthy of note. North and East Yorkshire boast a cornucopia of independent breweries, crafting delicious ales. Many have won awards: the York Brewery on Toft Green, for example, produces Centurion's Ghost Ale, named a Champion Beer in the Brewing Industry International Awards.

And at Rudgate, Tockwith, near York, they brew Viking, named the Campaign for Real Ale's Best Yorkshire Beer and runner up in the Great British Beer Festival.

Away from pubs, Restaurant Martel, at Gateforth Hall near Selby, scooped three restaurant of the year awards within 12 months of opening.that's going some.

Even our chippies are class. Moorside Fisheries in Church Street, Kirkbymoorside took the Friers Quality Award for its great fish and chips and high standards of hygiene and customer service this year.

When it comes to dairy products, Angus and Kathleen Wielkopolski, of St Helen's Farm, Seaton Ross, near York, are the crme de la crme. Their goats' milk products clinched the Great British Food Award in the North-East regional heats of the National Farmers' Union President's Awards.

After the cheese course comes the coffee. Simon Robertson runs Leoni's Coffee House, in Malton, and in May he beat entrants from around the country to win the British heat of the Barista World Championship.

So if you want the best coffee in the country, wheel down to Wheelgate in Malton.

Updated: 16:31 Thursday, November 14, 2002