Guess who is officially the Best Independent Retailer in the North?

We’re blushing a bit as we say it – but IT’S US!

Thank you so much to all of our wonderful customers who voted for us, we don’t know what to say!

But yes, here at Hunters of Helmsley we’re celebrating after being crowned the best independent retailer in the North following a public vote run by the Great British Food Awards 2019.

We beat off stiff competition from hundreds of other delis to be included on a shortlist of five retailers in the north, before eventually claiming the top spot.

There were 19 categories in total (nine for the independent retailer awards split across the country geographically). Our own region covered the North West, North East and Yorkshire so we’re even more honoured to have received this prestigious accolade with all the amazing competition across all those counties!

Staggeringly, more than 14,000 votes were cast in a number of reader-voted categories (thank you to everyone who took the time to do so), whilst celebrity favourites including the Hairy Bikers, Raymond Blanc and John Torode judged some of the other categories, such as best cheese, gin or baked goods. Nice work if you can get it!

The awards, which are in their sixth year, are run by Great British Food Magazine. Their lovely editor, Natasha Lovell-Smith, said: "Hunters of Helmsley is a Yorkshire institution and the finest food retailer in the North of England, according to Great British Food readers; 70% of the products available in store are sourced from within Yorkshire itself, so local sourcing is clearly a priority for the team. Famed for its excellent customer service and wide range of products, this is the place to go for local specialties, homemade preserves, fine wines, gift hampers and lots more."

So, we really are proud as (rum) punch. We feel passionate about good food and drink and supporting local producers and suppliers, so it is always wonderful to know that people enjoy what we offer. Thank you also to our wonderful team who always go out of their way to help customers find what they’re looking for – or discover a new favourite!

Think this deserves a glass of something fizzy! Cheers to you all!

Things heat up this National Curry Week

This week is the 21^st annual National Curry Week.

It’s no secret that in Britain we have a bit of a love affair with a good curry. It was the 1970s when curry houses started popping up in earnest around the country, but the first recorded curry recipe in English was in a cookery book all the way back in 1747. In fact, commercially produced curry powder first appeared in a shop in London in 1780.

The modern word curry comes from the Tamil ‘kari’ which is a spiced sauce served with rice. Everyone has their own personal favourites. The Tikka Masala apparently counts for one in seven curries eaten in the UK – but it’s not a traditional Indian curry at all, having thought to have been invented in Glasgow in 1971. Although in research two years ago which shocked the nation (OK, we may be exaggerating slightly….) the Korma actually beat the Tikka Masala, with one in five opting for the coconut cream-based curry as their favourite dish. Maybe it was just a blip that year. Madras, Jalfrezi and Vindaloo then typically follow as our favourite curry varieties.

For those who prefer things as hot as possible there’s the Chicken Naga, with plenty of Naga pepper seeds (855,000 on the Scoville Scale - 100 times hotter than jalapeño peppers). Or how about the ‘Flaming Fiery Phaal’ which includes the Naga but also the Scorpion pepper – a scary 1,500,000 on the Scoville Scale! You might need a few pints of milk or tubs of yoghurt to hand eating that one.

Although, admittedly understandably in that case, we may be nervous to try something new, apparently one in three of us always order the same thing when we have an Indian – we’re creatures of habit. But variety is the spice of life, so they say!

If you fancy spicing up your life a bit, at Hunters we have a wide range of curry sauces, spices and accompaniments, as well as some delicious ready to eat products. How about choosing from a selection of Rafis Spices all put together in York,maybe amazing Anila's handmade authentic sauces or  Yorkshire very own Aggrah range of sauces. All totally delicious and easy to combine with your favourite ingredients.

After all, a good curry is second to naan! (sorry….)