A chef from Hay on Wye has received one of the food industry's highest honours:

The award for the Best Welsh Speciality, sponsored by the Welsh Assembly Government, at the 2007 Great Taste Awards. Mike & Rachel Carnell's Grapefruit and Ginger Marmalade proved a massive hit with the judges, who also awarded

it the much sought after Three Star Gold Award. Mikes company, Chef on the Run Foods, beat of stiff competition, with just 46 companies out of 4,500 entries from across the UK to be given the illustrious Three Star gold Award. In total, Welsh producers took home 50 Gold Gtrat Taste Awards.

He is also delighted to have won a one-star Gold for his Whimberry and Apple Jam.

All foods entered were subject to a rigorous judging procedure. Following five weeks of independent blind tasting, around 800 products collected Gold Awards, with 44 of them from Wales. Most received a one-star grading for their general excellence in taste, texture and flavour, with 100 across the UK given 2 stars, 12 of them from Wales.

A Three Star Gold Award is a mark that the expert panel of judges considered them faultless.

Mike Said: "I am over the moon. It is the 12th award we have won from Great Taste in the four years we have been in business. Our preserves always sell but this award can increase demand and encourage people to try other preserves in our range".

Mike is a professional Chef who started his business called Chef on the Run Foods in 2003. Having worked in a number of restaurants and hotels and constantly on the run, he thought that if he

was going to be a chef on the run, then he would prepare products that he enjoyed producing.

In 2006 he and his wife Rachel bought the Old Stables Tearooms in Hay-on-Wye, where they serve freshly made cakes and desserts and also sell their delicious preserves.

Other award-winning marmalades are Nutty Orange, which won a Great Taste Award last year., Old Fashioned Black Treacle and Lemon and Fresh Ginger. They also make jams and chutneys.

People have their favourites, but I always knew Grapefruit and Ginger was something special. Our customers have always loved it, so I had an inkling of what stood a chance of winning.

Nothing but fruit, ginger and sugar goes into the marmalade. "I don't use any pectin or preservatives", said Mike.

The Awards have carved a reputation over the last decade as the single most sought after seal of real quality in speciality food and drink. Over 150 judges are involved and it falls to them to decide which foods deliver a high enough standard to be awarded Gold, Silver and Bronze - the highest acknowledgement of craftsmanship and dedication in the making of superb food and drink.

All winners were announced and showcased exclusively at the Speciality and Fine Food Fair at Olympia, London in September 2006. Chef on the Run Foods were winners in a range of categories in 2006:

Great Taste GOLD Winner 2006

Nutty Orange Marmalade

Great Taste Silver Winner 2006

Rhubarb and Ginger Jam

Old fashioned Black Treacle Marmalade

Great Taste Bronze Winner 2006

Jumping Carrot Hot Chutney

The Great Taste Awards 2007, run by the Guild of Fine Food Retailers, are regarded as the "Oscars" of the fine food world and recognise and reward the exceptional standard of food and drink available in the UK. The Awards have carved a reputation over the last decade as the single most sought after seal of real quality in speciality food and drink. Over 150 judges are involved and it falls to them to decide which foods deliver a high enough standard to be awarded Gold, Silver and Bronze - the highest acknowledgement of craftsmanship and dedication in the making of superb food and drink.

All winners were announced and showcased exclusively at the Speciality and Fine Food Fair at Olympia, London in September 2006.

Chef on the Run Foods were winners in a range of categories in 2006: