Food Competition 2003
Black Jug - Heats
This main course had great style and great flavour, and was easy to do. It possibly didn't need the black pudding, and 'colcannon' may need explaining on the menu.
Starter:
Capriccio of duck breast with black olive tapenade and duck lardoons
Good idea. Execution not right. Duck - too much too thick and garnish not right.
Light Bite:
Smoked chicken, avocado, cream cheese, tomato and lettuce served in a flour tortilla
Seasoning and warm tortilla would have made a big improvement.
Main:
Braised pork belly in cider on colcannon with black pudding
Great style, great flavour, easy to do. Possibly doesn't need black pudding and 'colcannon' may need explaining.
Pudding:
Sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice-cream.
Everything was excellent although not a newly created dish.
Prepared by:
Mike Riddle
Graham Smith
| Heats | Final | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Black Jug | ||
| Old Harkers Arms | ||
| Hare | Hare | |
| Grosvenor Arms | Grosvenor Arms | Grosvenor Arms |
| Pant-yr-Ochain | Pant-yr-Ochain | |
| Armoury | ||
| Dysart Arms | ||
| Glasfryn | ||
| Cross Foxes | ||
| Corn Mill | ||
| Pen-y-Bryn |
The Challenge
Every pub must enter a starter, light bite, main course and pudding. The dishes need to be prepared, cooked and put together in the morning before judging at lunchtime.
In the first round, three or four pubs each day go up against each other. The winner overall on each day goes through to the final, which is held two weeks later.
Pub managers and senior chefs are encouraged to come along for the judging and to lend support at the tastings and see what their crews have done, but they can't make any alterations or comment until after the judging - or heckle the other pub teams.
The Criteria
Each dish will be judged under the following criteria; the written description of the dish; the style of the dish; presentation; taste and balance; value for money for the customer; gross profit to the pub; kitchen efficiency; likelihood of consistent reproduction; ease of service to the table.
Prizes
The winning team will enjoy the glory, the admiration and undoubtedly the accusations of bias and double-dealing from all their peers. They will also receive a trophy and probably a case or two of something quaffable to share amongst the team.