I have lost count at the number of people who think that The Cambridge Foodies exclusively covers Cambridge. I’ll admit, it is confusing with the name. Maybe I should have just called it Cambridgeshire Foodies instead? The problem is, the name doesn’t have the same zing. I have always covered the entirety of the county, including over the border into Newmarket and Royston. This is why when I was first nominated for the Ely Hero Awards for the ‘Community Champion’ category by several Ely restaurant owners, I was sceptical that I would stand a chance because our brand was not entirely focused on Ely.

Despite Cambridge grabbing a majority of the attention being the undisputed foodie capital of Cambridgeshire, my heart has always belonged to Ely and if you pay attention you will see that it shows in the blog. It is the place I consider home. Even as a young child growing up in Waterbeach, there was always a pull drawing me towards it. It was always more than just the cathedral; it felt like a peaceful, safe and beautiful place with a deep sense of community that I knew, somehow, I would eventually settle in – and I did.

This is why half of my content is about Ely and why I spend so much time writing about it, whether it is crafting pieces like “Why Ely Gets It Right“, writing rebuttals to defend the city against unfair attacks from the likes of Muscle Food Magazine, or simply singing its praises in my everyday life. Family members light-heartedly tell me I ought to be an Ely tour guide because of the pride I take in the place, and god help you if you are a friend visiting from out of town, as they are inevitably going to get the grand tour of the area (whether they like it or not). In a world that seems to be getting harder and harder for people to simply get on with their lives, Ely feels like a refuge – a city that truly understands what it means to be liveable.

Despite this, I was sceptical that the judges would be able to see it in my work. I have been nominated for local awards in the past and felt disappointed that the judges never spoke to me, reached out, or even joined my communities to see the work taking place before making their decision – only to find that the award ended up in the hands of corporate nominees. It felt incredibly frustrating and political, and as a result my confidence was low. Luckily, the Ely Hero Awards are a lot more thorough and rigorous with their vetting process, which included proper face-to-face interviews from people who also live in the local community, run by a non-profit charity.

After going through several rounds of nominations, which included a multi-hour interview, the evening itself was a grand and incredibly formal affair hosted at the stunning riverside venue, The Maltings. We were even treated to an exceptional three-course meal, with the waiting staff doing an incredible job handling such a large crowd in a tight serving window. The food was supplied by a fantastic local catering company and the quality was superb. Entertainment for the night was provided by the delightful Star Struck Theatre group, who put on a brilliant performance. Compared to other awards I have been nominated for, this was next level.

The categories spanned the full spectrum of civic life, from the deeply moving Best Teacher, Caring Companion, and Environmental Champion, to the more light-hearted Janet Eisold Smiliest Server Award and Neighbour of the Year. What united every single category was the undeniable level of importance each winner held, whether on an individual level or for the city as a whole.

The Award

I was nominated for the ‘The Mike Rouse Community Champion Award’. A particularly meaningful category for me as Mike Rouse was a true local legend who spent his life documenting the history of Ely and playing an integral role in our community. While I know I could never reach the dizzying heights of his achievements, simply being named a finalist in his category was a massive honour.

I was up against Mike Axford and Cathy Gibb-de-Swarte, both incredibly worthy candidates. Looking through their achievements – particularly their extensive charity work – I went into the night convinced I was the outsider. Mr Axford in particular had a remarkable track record of championing Ely. I was so certain he had it in the bag that I walked into The Maltings simply intending to enjoy a night out and a free dinner with my wife.

The moment it happened!

To actually win this award is the greatest thrill of my life. In fact, my wife tells me she remembers how my eyes almost bugged out of my head when they called my name. I started this blog all the way back in 2009 as a simple way to improve my English. I always struggled with the subject at school, and I figured that if I put my writing out where the world could see it, I would force myself to do a better job. Nearly 18 years later, here I am winning a community award for it. I know that my writing still has a way to go, and I certainly didn’t win for my grammar or spelling, but instead for the tangible, positive impact the platform has made for local restaurant owners over the years. Supporting them through a hostile economic environment that is only getting harder and harder to survive in has been the mission of my life and something I take great pride in, and to be recognised for it is truly touching.

Special thanks

I want to express my deepest thanks to Zahid from Sylhet Indian Restaurant, Ozzy from Limora, William and Juliana from Sushi & Salad and Griddle Bar Meathouse, and my family for nominating me – particularly my mum, who has been an unwavering source of support. It was also wonderful to see Amin from Le Spice on the night, sponsoring one of the other categories, who has also been heavily involved in the local community and a great supporter of the Cambridge Foodies blog.

Most of all, I need to thank my wife. She has been by my side for almost the entire journey – though the blog actually predates our relationship! Ever since the day we met, she has had to put up with me spending vast sums of money eating out every other day, spending endless hours writing about local issues, and travelling to the far edges of the county to visit obscure food spots. Especially now that we have a young child, she has often been left holding the fort while I swan off to eat extravagant dinners, all in the name of promoting a local hospitality industry on its knees.

Sutton Smashing It

It was also a fantastic night for my village of Sutton, which scooped multiple awards across the evening, including Syuleybe from our very own Joy Bistro – a wonderful spot I’ve had the pleasure of writing about on the blog before and is a real credit to the village.

Well done guys!

To everyone who has read, shared, or supported The Cambridge Foodies over the last 18 years – thank you. Especially to the members of our communities. This trophy belongs to all of us.

The question is – Where do I go from here?