Husband and wife team scoop food award

A Birmingham-based husband and wife catering team have won a Great Taste Award for what was described by judges as “a mountain of flavour ” in their Chicken, Bacon and Leek Pie.

Their business - Festen - was among 16 West Midlands businesses to be awarded a star from the Guild of Fine Food in what is the world 's largest and most trusted food and drink accreditation scheme.

All entries are blind tasted by leading figures in the UK food industry including chefs, retailers, restaurateurs, food critics and writers such as Felicity Cloake (The Guardian) and Xanthe Clay (The Telegraph).

Andy and Caroline Evans launched Festen (meaning a 'celebration ' or 'feast ') as a private dining business in 2018, having worked for over a decade in high calibre restaurants around the world including in London, Bristol, Paris, Melbourne and Margaret River in Australia.

When all events were put on hold during the pandemic, they began offering a weekly changing Friday menu with favourites such as fish pie, aubergine parmigiana, middle eastern lamb kofte and tiramisu.

Once lockdown eased, they widened their offer to begin catering events such as afternoon teas and opened a stall selling pies, quiches and macarons at Edgbaston Village 's new Artisan Market.

Caroline Evans said: “We prioritise quality of flavour above all else in all our dishes so to be commended by the Great Taste Awards in this way is absolutely fantastic.

“We believe that the enjoyment of good food shouldn 't be reserved for special occasions but an everyday ritual. ”

To order Festen food and taste its acclaimed Chicken Pie, subscribe to its weekly menus via their website: https://www.festen.co.uk/.

Orders are delivered every Friday to selected Birmingham postcodes (please see website for delivery area).

Festen trade at Edgbaston Village Artisan Market every month; the next market date is Saturday 10 September 10am - 3pm.

As well as their weekly 'Friday Meals ', Festen also deliver catering for private events throughout Birmingham, including afternoon tea and buffet menus.

To find out more, visit https://www.festen.co.uk/ or email festenuk@gmail.com

Follow Festen on Instagram @festenuk

Pictured: Festen 's Chicken, Bacon and Leek Pie - awarded Great Taste 2022