Avon Causeway chef, Jake McBride has had his Pork, Chorizo and Sunblush pie crowned as the winner of the 12th annual Wadworth pie competition, sponsored by Essential Cuisine. The win comes just months after Wadworth awarded Jake silver prize for its Chef of the Year 2017.
Jake’s winning recipe was created using pork shoulder, chorizo sausages, sun-blushed tomatoes, shallots, onions, a variety of herbs and spices, and is served with a puff pastry lid, sautéed potatoes, peas and peppercorn sauce. To celebrate National Pie Week, the winning dish will be sold across Wadworth’s managed houses from 5th March while stocks last.
Entrants were asked to submit recipes with allergen information, as well as a cost breakdown. Individual pubs then promoted their pies to customers who gave feedback on the dishes through an online link. The customer feedback this year was really high, with 700 votes being casted, and was used to cut the competition down from 38 entrants to six finalists.
Seven judges, including Wadworth’s head of managed houses Rupert Bagnall, then tasted the pies and judged them on presentation, quality of pastry, quality of filling, strength of flavours, quality and innovation, value for money and standard of service. Avon Causeway’s Pork, Chorizo and Sunblush pie received the highest score and was commended for its variety of ingredients, depth of flavour and unique taste.
Jake McBride from Avon Causeway, commented: “I am thrilled that my pie has won and really proud that something I created has been judged as the best. I want to say thank you to all the customers at Avon Causeway that voted for it.”
Rupert Bagnell, head of managed houses at Wadworth, said: “A terrific diverse range of pies made the finals this year, with flavours from warm spice to superfoods, making the judging both incredibly close and difficult. Congratulations to all the finalists, especially Jake.”
