National tourism quality inspectors have finally unveiled one of the best kept secrets on the UK food map.

Food and drink in Durham is among the best in Britain, according to inspectors from Visit Britain, the national tourist board, who tested more than 30 restaurants, caf��s, pubs, farm shops and hotels for the launch of a new food quality mark called TasteDurham.

TasteDurham has been created by the County Durham Tourism Partnership to showcase the quality of food and drink in the region to a national audience and rewards only those businesses who offer a consistently high quality service and support local food producers and suppliers.

Melanie Sensicle, chief executive of County Durham Tourism Partnership, said: �TasteDurham is a celebration of the quality of food and drink businesses in Durham, which are among the best in the country, a fact that until now has largely been kept secret in the North East of England.�

Businesses from across the county�s food and drink sector were invited to join the scheme that was funded by CDTP to undertake the assessment against Visit Britain�s strict criteria for quality of menu, cleanliness, customer service and use of locally sourced produce.

The Taste quality mark is in use in other UK regions including Lancashire and Staffordshire, but this is the first time the national food spotlight has been turned on Durham.

To mark the launch of the scheme, its award-winning businesses have created the inaugural TasteDurham cookbook with 28 distinctive local recipes made using fresh, seasonal and local ingredients.

Local Durham favourites include: Cotherstone Cheese Souffl� with light chive cream from the Rose & Crown Inn, Teesdale, and Beamish Trout Pate, served with Rocket, ciabatta and humous, from the award-winning South Causey Inn, where trout is sourced from the owner�s fish farm.

The cookbook is available to buy online at www.tastedurham.co.uk by ordering a hard copy or as a downloadable e-book.

The Michelin starred White Room restaurant at Seaham Hall Hotel and Serenity Spa is one of the TasteDurham award winning businesses with the highest quality assurance.

White Room was recently named the 27th best place to eat in the UK, according to Restaurant Magazine, beating a host of top London restaurants.

Head Chef Kenny Atkinson, said: �Ninety eight per cent of my ingredients are fresh and local and I change my menu�s to suit the best that is available from North East food producers. TasteDurham is great news for the region and champions my belief that the North East can compete with the likes of London and Edinburgh for top end restaurants, bistro�s and caf��s.�

Businesses will also be able to use the TasteDurham mark to promote themselves and benefit from a marketing toolkit supplied by CDTP, including stickers, logos and an enhanced listing on Durham�s official tourism website www.visitcountydurham.com.

For more information about TasteDurham and the levels of award within the scheme, visit: www.tastedurham.co.uk

Media Enquiries For more information, interview requests and other images, please contact Matthew Moore, PR Executive, at tel: 0191 383 7419, or email: matthew.moore@cdtp.co.uk

Photo Caption Melanie Sensicle, chief executive of County Durham Tourism Partnership, with BBC Look North presenter Wendy Gibson launching the inaugural TasteDurham cookbook at the Gala Theatre in Durham.

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NOTES TO EDITORS

CDTP

In April 2006 responsibility for leading tourism in the county was placed with the County Durham Tourism Partnership (CDTP), a Destination Management Organisation. The central responsibility of the CDTP is to provide strategic leadership and coordination in the county and work closely with tourism networks, local authorities, local associations and tourism businesses to ensure tourism plays a major role in the county�s visitor economy.

The CDTP is charged with six key areas of activity: Visitor experience, product development, marketing, information services, business support and work-force development.

The partnership is part of Tourism Network North East and has been in development since One North East assumed responsibility for tourism in North East England.

It is a private, not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, with a board of eight directors and executive director, five from the private sector and three from the public sector. Matthew Moore PR Executive County Durham Tourism Partnership The Rivergreen Centre Aykley Heads Durham DH1 5TS T 0191 383 7419 F 0191 383 7424 E matthew.moore@cdtp.co.uk