Chefs rise to the occasion Inn takes prize for pudding
SURELY one of the greatest and most important competitions of all time took place on Sunday, February 3 - the Cotswold Yorkshire Pudding Competition.
As this Sunday marked National Yorkshire Pudding Day, there was no better way to celebrate than with an ultimate Yorkshire Pudding battle.
Cotswold chefs from four different restaurants have battled it out to be crowned king of the batter.
Chefs from the Golden Cross Inn in Cirencester, The Riverside Inn of Lechalde, Tetbury’s The Priory Inn and The Angel Hotel of Royal Wootton Bassett went head to head in order to win the coveted award.
The overall winner was chosen by an independent judging panel that included BBC Gloucestershire’s Steve Knibbs, Lady Bathurst, and Sam Edwards and Bob Parkinson - chefs from award winning restaurant Made By Bob.
The battle of the batter was no laughing matter with the chefs all taking the competition very seriously. Rob Goves, chef and director of The Priory Inn, said: “We are taking this competition extremely seriously, the Yorkshire Pudding is sacred and a part of British culinary folklore. We’re playing to win.” Mark Lindesay, landlord of The Golden Cross Inn, wasn’t taking any chances either.
“I do not let my chefs make the Yorkies,” he said.
“I have a recipe that has been handed down and refined through the family and has proves supremely popular since I took over the pub 10 years ago - I look forward to picking up the trophy.” However, it was not to be for Mark. The overall winner and Cotswold king of the Yorkshire Pudding was Rob Goves from The Priory Inn.
The champion said: “We were delighted to win and show off what our Sunday diners enjoy so much at The Priory Inn.”
Tetbury’s Priory Inn, which is also a hotel, is set in a beautiful historic building and is committed to using fresh, local produce, with wood-fired over gourmet pizzas.
Made By Bob’s head chef Sam Edwards praised the winning Yorkshire. “We particularly liked the crispy and seasoned edges to the winning Yorkies,” he said.
“There were some great examples there, and it was fun to be involved.”
This is the second time the competition has taken place and organisers are hoping to make it an annual event.
There were some great examples there and it was fun to be involved Sam Edwards