They're the people putting food and drink back at the heart of our communities. They're the men and women using lost arts and new skills to bring craft back to the kitchen.
Perhaps more importantly, they're the people who've come to represent the best of British innovation and entrepreneurship in a struggling economy.
Whether they're using an airing cupboard as a smokehouse, or putting their own twist on butchery techniques that are centuries old - together they are defining a new culture of food in Britain.
The YBFs Foundation is here to shine a spotlight on this grassroots talent (in the annual awards) and provide a springboard to success with world class mentoring and commercial opportunities.
The leading authority on all things bibulous, Tony C of 69 Colebrooke Row – there’s no one better – will be judging the rising stars of mixology.
As with last year, we have the scenesters’ top epicurean experimentalists, Sam Bompas and Harry Parr on board.
Marina O’Loughlin, the best restaurant critic in Britain to judge chefs, alongside the brilliant Nuno Mendes. Mendes is of course from El Bulli, Bacchus, now Viajante, the restaurant du jour in Bethnal Green.
Coffee king and rule breaker, Gwilym Davies to judge new cutting edge stars of the barista world, alongside Australia’s acclaimed Tim Styles of Workshop fame and Illy university’s revered mentor Marco Arrigo. It’s an august team.
Chocolatier and queen of the road Petra Barran confirmed to judge the mobile food movement.
Judges dough-doyen Daniel Stevens formerly of River Cottage and baker to the celebs, Lily Vanilli, are arbiters.
Meat doyen, Yianni Papoutsis of MeatLiquor fame will be looking over charcuterie, meat and butchery.
This is the wildcard. If you don’t fit into the above categories, feel free to enter here. Judges are the founders of The YBF awards.