
The Shortlist is Here!
We’re thrilled to announce the shortlist, celebrating the very best food and drink writers, broadcasters, photographers and creators since 2013.
12 categories are judged by an independent panel of experts. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Judging Panel Chair, Angela Hartnett OBE, was unfortunately unable to take up her role for this year’s Awards. Our thanks go to Mark Diacono - food writer and previous Awards judge - for kindly deputising as Chair.
The Photographer of the Year category - presented in partnership with the World Food Photography Awards (WFPA), sponsored by Tenderstem® - is judged by Caroline Kenyon, founder of the WFPA; Eliza Williams, editor of Creative Review and Ange Loftus, Head of Brand & Creative Production of Fortnum & Mason.

Book Categories
FOOD BOOK

All Consuming: Why We Eat the Way We Eat Now
by Ruby Tandoh
(Serpent’s Tail, Profile)

Food Fight: From Plunder and Profit to People and Planet
by Stuart Gillespie
(Canongate)

The Heart-Shaped Tin
by Bee Wilson
(Fourth Estate)
DEBUT FOOD BOOK

Bread & War
by Felicity Spector
(Duckworth Books)

Foreign Fruit: A Personal History of the Orange
by Katie Goh
(Canongate)

An A-Z of Chinese Food (Recipes Not Included)
by Jenny Lau
(Renegade Books, John Murray Group)
COOKERY BOOK

Indian Kitchens
by Roopa Gulati
(Bloomsbury)

Lugma
by Noor Murad
(Quadrille)

The Irish Kitchen
by Cherie Denham and Andrew Montgomery
(Montgomery Press)

The Japanese Pantry
by Emiko Davies
(Smith Street Books)
DEBUT COOKERY BOOK

FERMENT: A Cookbook
by Kenji Morimoto
(One Boat, Pan Macmillan)

Silk Roads
by Anna Ansari
(DK)

The Sudanese Kitchen
by Omer Al Tijani
(Almas Art Foundation)
DRINK BOOK

Filthy Queens: A History of Beer in Ireland
by Dr Christina Wade
(Nine Bean Rows)

The Curious Bartender’s Agave Safari
by Tristan Stephenson
(Ryland Peters & Small)

The Madrusan Cocktail Companion
by Michael and Zara Madrusan
(Murdoch Books)
DEBUT DRINK BOOK

Tequila: A Tasting Course
by Millie Milliken
(DK)

The Cynic’s Guide to Wine
by Sunny Hodge
(Académie du Vin Library)

Thirsty
by Tom Gilbey
(Square Peg)

Writer Categories
FOOD WRITER

James Morton
for work in Scribehound Food

Safiya Robinson
for work in Chicken + Bread Zine and Sisterwoman

Yemisí Aríbisálà
for work in Vittles and Scribehound Food
COOKERY WRITER

Jay Rayner
for work in FT Weekend Magazine

Nick Bramham
for work in Vittles

Olivia Potts
for work in The Spectator
DRINK WRITER

Imran Rahman-Jones
for work in Eaten Magazine and Pellicle Magazine

Joel Harrison
for work in Club Oenologique

Kristiane Westray
for work in Whisky Magazine and Club Oenologique
RESTAURANT WRITER

David Ellis
for work in The London Standard

Joanna Taylor
for work in Foodism and The Telegraph

Tim Hayward
for work in FT Weekend Magazine

Photographer and Broadcaster Categories
PHOTOGRAPHER

Kim Lightbody

Robert Billington

Ruth Calder-Potts
PROGRAMME

Hebridean Baker: Nordic Islands
Presenter: Coinneach MacLeod
Producers: Faye MacLean and Julie McCrone
Caledonia TV

Jeremy Pang’s Hong Kong Kitchen
Presenter: Jeremy Pang
Director: Kevin Batchelor
Electric Robin

Mr Lyan’s Taste Trips: Japan
Presenter: Ryan Chetiyawardana
Producer: Jonny Dixon
Ink Global
Mr Lyan Studio
AUDIO

The Food Chain: A Place At The Table: Fostering and Adoption
Presenter: Ruth Alexander
Producer: Beatrice Pickup
Editor: Sara Wadeson
BBC World Service

The Food Foundation Podcast: 10th Anniversary
Presenter: Anna Taylor
Producer: Gilly Smith

The Kitchen Cabinet
Presenter: Jay Rayner
Producers: Daniel Cocker, Matt Smith, Dulcie Whadcock and Ollie Wilson
Sony Music Podcasts
Important Dates for your Diary
All Winners Announced - 11am, Friday 1st May 2026







