Food Competition 2006 Final
Fliss, Tim, Jo, James, Natalie, Gemma, Sean and Nino
The final of the food competition 2006 arrived, putting to rest weeks of planning, preparation and perspiration. It is amazing how it gets to you - we all know it’s just a bit of fun, a chance to get to know one another, get some focus going on the right style of food and do a bit of cooking, all dressed up as a light-hearted competition.
But actually, when the day of the final dawns, the competing cooks have been awake half the night with nerves. Last year, there were even tears... so believe it when you hear that tensions run high. When dishes came out, there was a general holding-of-breath all round...apart from the judges of course, who just got stuck in. Thankfully this year there were no dramas or disasters (if you remember, at the last moment in last year’s final the Combermere’s pud failed to set, which cost them the trophy), and the Combermere finally laid the food competition ghost to rest. They were adjudged the eventual winners, and though the margin was cigarette-paper thin, all onlookers agreed it was the right result on the day.
Best Dish: Summer pudding served with clotted cream
Combermere Arms
Chefs: Tim Pierson, Felicity Chesworth
Throughout this competition there has been ample indication of the technical aptitude of Tim and Fliss and again this was reaffirmed in all the culinary delights they produced in the final. Their exquisite summer pudding was the epitome of their well deserved first place. [more...]
Best Dish: Guinea fowl with cabbage and braised potato
Dysart Arms
Chefs: Natalie Ellis, Jo Winstanley
Natalie and Jo have shown a level of competency beyond their years throughout the whole competition. The apparent care in preparation and bringing together of defined flavours has shone through in all the dishes. Their Guinea fowl main course was their finest example of this. Slight adjustments to some of the dishes would just add the finishing touches. [more...]
Best Dish: Haddock Smokey and soda bread
Best Dish: Warm chocolate mousse with pistachio ice cream
Pant-yr-Ochain
Chefs: Sean Adam, James Mayers
The challenge of the final was met with confidence by the Pant team - rich, wholesome, natural flavours were present at every stage, which in turn created an elaborate range of dishes. There is no denying that their warm chocolate pudding with pistachio ice cream was sensational and well worthy of the highest rank. [more...]
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.