Two of Butcombe Brewery’s head chefs have scooped prizes in this year’s Great Sausage Roll Off. Alan Chilton, head chef at Butcombe’s Bower Inn, East Bower near Bridgwater won the competition outright with colleague Amber Southon, head chef at the Quarryman’s Arms near Bath coming second, in the industry competition held last week.
The event, now in its eighth year, held by Claire Morgan and Angus McKean at Fuller’s Red Lion in Barnes attracts entries from chefs across the country, all striving to win this coveted catering and hospitality industry award. The final was hosted by beer and food writer Melissa Cole and saw 18 chefs battling for the title of the ultimate sausage roll in a gruelling four hour live cook off.
Alan Chilton, head chef, Bower Inn said:
“I’m overwhelmed to have won this award! This is the first cooking competition I have ever entered after over twenty years working in kitchens. My sausage roll was inspired by my travels around India some years ago. The day was lots of fun and it was great to meet so many other talented chefs. My Butcombe Brewery colleague Amber Southon from the Quarryman’s Arms near Bath came second so we’re celebrating twice!”
Alan’s winning creation was an Indian spiced sausage roll made with Wessex Saddleback pork, fresh chilli, shallots, garlic, coriander, ground ginger, cumin and cinnamon rolled up in a turmeric and carraway rough puff pastry and served with a spiced pork crackling and an apple and tamarind ketchup.
Amber Southon, head chef, Quarryman’s Arms said:
“I’m delighted to have come second in this this iconic competition. My real passion and skill is in pastry, pies and old school cooking. At Butcombe we spend a great deal of time researching Victorian recipes for the pies, pork pies, wellingtons etc so this was a great fit for me. The pork is from Gloucester Old Spot and I added a chutney with orchard fruits of plum, apple and pears from my mum’s garden. It’s all about classical heritage food but bringing it up to date.”
The Great Sausage Roll Off’s judging panel included celebrity chef and Sunday Brunch presenter Simon Rimmer, Heart FM DJ Lucy Horobin and Michelin-starred chefs Paul Cunningham and Russell Bateman.
Angus McKean, co-licensee of The Red Lion and founder of The Great Sausage Roll Off, said:
“What a year! What a competition! I always say the Roll Off line up gets better every year, however, this year the chefs have really out-done themselves. The competition was really tough, I couldn’t call it, the judging panel had a tough decision to make, but Alan is a worthy winner.”
Claire Morgan, co-licensee of The Red Lion, added:
“Forget Christmas, forget Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, The Sausage Roll Off is what our calendar revolves round. I am delighted that we have been able to raise so much for Hospitality Action too. Our customers’ generosity is so humbling, I cannot thank them enough.”
This year’s event is raising money for Hospitality Action, a charity that offers help, advice and support to people who work, or have worked within the hospitality industry in the UK.