Skip to main content

Good Food launches new Rising Star Awards

Thursday 21 November 2024

Good Food, the UK’s number one food media brand today (Thursday 21 November) announced the winner of the first Good Food Rising Stars 2024, a nationwide search for unsung cooks who love creating recipes and being in front of the camera.

During the final, the judges – Good Food’s Cassie Best and chef Max La Manna – critiqued a vegan midweek meal cooked on the clock to decide on a final five ahead of picking the ultimate winner.

And with her recipe of curried butter beans served with onions three ways saw Georgia Hughes, originally from Birmingham now living in Yorkshire, announced as the winner of the first ever Good Food Rising Stars.

Georgia particularly impressed the judges with her creative use of a basic vegetable in her standout final dish. Georgia’s entry recipe – crispy pork massaman ramen – also had major appeal to the shortlisting panel, who praised its inventive flavours, comforting cookability and picture-perfect finish. During the competition, she demonstrated a passion for accessible, flavourful cooking, plus she showed off well-layered dishes and colourful, appetising presentation.

 

“Taking part in the Good Food Rising Stars competition was an incredible experience. I loved getting creative with the brief as it pushed me to think beyond the regular recipes I usually make. One of the best parts was meeting the other talented finalists who share a similar passion for food. It was amazing to connect with them and share experiences.

As someone who usually shares recipes on social media, it’s rare to receive truly honest feedback on my dishes. That’s why getting feedback from Max and Cassie was such a highlight for me.  I entered the competition hoping to make it to the final, so I was so excited—and a little shocked—to come away with a win! Knowing my recipes will be published with Good Food feels surreal. It’s such an incredible opportunity, and I’m so grateful to have been a part of it.”

Georgia Hughes, winner of Good Food Rising Stars competition

Three people stand closely together, smiling at the camera. The woman in the center holds a Good Rising Star 2024 award. The photo is in black and white with a brick wall background.

Georgia is on the bill for the Good Food Show Winter at Birmingham NEC on from today til Sunday, plus she will appear on Good Food social channels, in 2025. Georgia’s recipes are on  the Good Food website.