Food Competition 2008
Pen-y-Bryn - Heats
Dean and Andy excelled themselves tremendously, it was obvious that great care, thought and practice had been given to every dish. Certainly deserving they're place in the final round.
Starter:
Deep fried Pollock with garden pea and mint sauce
The plate was far too large but otherwise a great dish. The fish was cooked excellently, the batter crunchy and the pea and mint sauce a refreshing accompaniment. Great price sensitivity without compromising on quality.
Light Bite:
Chicken, roast vegetable and cous cous salad with red pepper dressing
An appealing, colourful dish with succulently cooked Chicken but the dish could have done with some more cous-cous and some salad leaves running through it.
Main:
Roast rib of Welsh Black beef for two with horseradish mash and vegetables
This dish certainly had the wow factor and most definitely wouldn't disappoint. Extremely well presented and cooked, too much veg but otherwise a winning dish.
Pudding:
Iced lemon custard with soft fruit salad
A really lovely dessert with a gorgeous delicate zesty flavour and so colourful.
Prepared by:
Dean Edwards and Andy Coverley
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.