FROM a pork sausage with orange marmalade to an ice-cream made from sheep's milk, yesterday's Taste of the West awards ceremony was full of surprises.

Known as the Oscars of the Westcountry food world, the awards saw 200 of the great and the good of the South West's food industry gathered in the Great Tithe Barn at Haselbury Mill in Crewkerne.

And while winners were as varied as a tea shop in Lostwithiel and a curry sauce firm in St Austell, it was that most traditional of the region's products – cheddar cheese – that scooped the top award.

The award of Product of the Year went to Mary Quicke of Newton St Cyres, near Exeter. Her farmhouse cheddar so impressed the judges that one said when tasting it: "Life doesn't get much better than this."

Ms Quicke – whose father Sir John Quicke started Quicke's Cheese 25 years ago – was almost in tears as she accepted the trophy from Masterchef winner Mat Follas. "My father died two weeks ago and he would have been so proud. I just wish he was here today," she said.

"I am absolutely delighted to have won. This is a team effort – everyone who works for us is a champion."

Her extra mature cheddar fought off nearly 1,300 entries to catch the eye of judge Mat Follas, who runs the Wild Garlic restaurant in Beaminster.

He said judging the 2009 awards was "an honour". "The standard was so high and the products so good. But we kept coming back to the Quicke's cheddar.

"It really is outstanding and can hold its own on a world stage as a truly excellent cheese."

This year's awards were the biggest ever, according to Taste of the West chief executive John Sheaves. "Entries were up by 200 to an all-time high of nearly 1,300 products and 300 hospitality venues. The quality just keeps improving, too. Consumers now have very high expectations and local producers have risen to the challenge.

"There are some world-class food and drink products and places to eat out in the South West."

The coveted Producer of the Year Award has been renamed this year in memory of the Western Morning News' former food editor, Carol Trewin, who died in October.

The winner of the 2009 Carol Trewin Award is David Baker of Styles Farmhouse Ice Cream, in Minehead, whose innovative use of sheep's milk to create ice-cream impressed the judges.

"I'm thrilled to win," said Mr Baker, whose company now employs 70 people locally, bringing much-needed economic vitality to West Somerset.

Taste of the West Results

Champion product (and best dairy product)

Extra Mature Cheddar, Quicke’s Traditional Ltd, Newton St Cyres, Devon.

Judge’s comment: “Wonderful. Life doesn’t get better than this.”

Best savoury bakery

Meat Pasty, Ron Dewdney Ltd, Plymouth.

Judge’s comment: “Lovely pastry, not stodgy or greasy with a ‘straight out of the oven’ smell A cracking job.”

Best sweet bakery and confectionery

Saffron Cake, Simply Cornish, Penzance.

Judge’s comment: “Plenty of moisture with a wonderful aroma. It screams Westcountry.”

Best dessert

Sticky Ginger Pudding, The Cotswold Pudding Company, Gloucestershire.

Judge’s comment: “Very moist, not too light with a great ginger flavour.”

Best uncured meat

Calves Liver, Bocaddon Farm Veal, South East Cornwall.

Judge’s comment: “They should be very proud of this product’s great taste and humane farming credentials. To be applauded and supported.”

Best cured meat

Free Range Pork Salami, The Real Boar Co, Wiltshire.

Judge’s comment: “An original, classy-looking product. Good rich meat with plenty of spice. Succulent with lovely colours and every flavour apparent. An outstanding product.”

Best of bacon, sausages and burgers

Pork Sausages with Orange Marmalade, The Sausage Shed, Martock, Somerset.

Judge’s comment: “Lovely and moist with a soft texture. Very distinctive with a lovely tang.”

Best fish

Pacific Oysters, Bigbury Bay Oysters, Bigbury, Devon.

Judge’s comment: “Lovely, appearance. Wonderful taste with a kick of the sea. Soft, fleshy and buttery.”

Best ready meal

Free Range Chicken Jalfrezi, The Little Cornish Curry Company, St Austell, Cornwall.

Judge’s comment: “The lovely bright, fresh flavours of this product really make it stand out. An outstanding ready-to -eat product.”

Best sauce or accompaniment

Kukhra Gourmet Curry Sauce, Gurkha Fine Foods, Wiltshire.

Judge’s comment: “Looked good in and out of the jar. Great texture with authentic flavours which are not overpowering – Truly representing the image and style of the Gurkha traditions.”

Best preserve

Taunton Jelly, Brendon Hill Crafts, Barnstaple, Devon.

Judge’s comment: “A good, clear, clean jelly with good wobble and excellent cider flavour.”

Best drink

Organic Sloe Gin, Bramley and Gage, Gloucestershire.

Judge’s comment: “Delicious. Fruit shines through.”

Best new product

Healey’s Classic Reserve, Healey’s Cornish Cyder Farm, Penhallow, Cornwall.

Judge’s comment: “Matured in whisky barrels, this has a luxurious extra flavour dimension.”

Best packaging

Healey’s Classic Reserve, Healey’s Cornish Cyder Farm, Penhallow, Truro, Cornwall.

Judge’s comment: “This packaging stands out from the crowd – less is definitely more.”

Online retailer of the year

The Nearly Naked Veg Company, Avonwick, Devon.

Judge’s comment: “A very well thought-out site with a clean and great quirky design.”

Local retail outlet of the year

Darts Farm, Topsham, Devon.

Judge’s comment: “From the moment you walk in, it is clear how important local sourcing is here. All the staff were excellent. A fabulous range of fresh produce.”

Tea room of the year

Muffins, Lostwithiel, Cornwall.

Judge’s comment: “This is the perfect tea room.”

Bed and breakfast of the year

Three Acres Country House, Dulverton, Somerset.

Judge’s comment: “A wonderfully elegant placeDaily menu, fabulous breakfast, superb room and great location.”

Gastro pub of the year

The Holt, Honiton, Devon.

Judge’s comment: “An excellent pub with superb service, great style and very good food.”

Restaurant of the year

The Jack in the Green, Rockbeare, Devon.

Judge’s comment: “The food is very good without being fancy – truly professionally run.”

Local food in schools

Joint winners:

Sandroyd School, Salisbury, Wiltshire.

Judge’s comment: “A huge amount of work has been undertaken, with Some radical thinking such as the removal of vending machines.A real commitment to ensure pupils receive nutritionally-balanced meals.”

Spaxton C of E School, Bridgwater, Somerset.

Judge’s comment: “They have achieved a standard rarely equalled in other schools. We particularly liked theAn overwhelming feeling of fun associated with educating the pupils about food.”

Carol Trewin producer of the year award

David Baker, Styles Farmhouse Ice Cream, Minehead, Somerset.

Judge’s comment: “David is full of enthusiasm and passionate about his excellent product.”

Local food champion

Peter and Henrietta Greig, Pipers Farm, Cullompton, Devon.

Judge’s comment: “By working with as many as 30 local farmers reaching right across Devon and Somerset, tThey have really taken local food to the urban consumer.”