Bakers from around the globe can sign up from noon tomorrow for the second annual World Pasty Championships at the Eden Project, which takes place on Saturday March 2.
In the first World Pasty Championships at Eden last March, more than 100 competitors took part in a day-long celebration of Cornwall’s most famous dish. The offerings ranged from traditional pasties made in the heart of Cornwall, to novel recipes from other parts of Britain and across the world.
Many of last year’s bakers are due back to show off their wares and defend their titles, including Billy Deakin, winner of the Cornish Pasty Amateur category and the Bridgeport Pasty Company, whose third prize Professional Open Savoury pasty came all the way from Chicago, Illinois, USA.
With new junior and company classes added this year, entry numbers for the gala event are limited so early registration is highly recommended.
Competitors can register for the competition at: http://www.edenproject.com/world-pasty-championships-rules where full entry details can be found, or by ringing the Eden Project Box Office on 01726 811972.
A special guest at the championships will be St Austell-born Mike Amery, who is planning on flying all the way from his home in New Hope, Pennsylvania, USA to enter the competition for a second time.
This year there will be new categories, giving companies, professionals, amateurs and even junior bakers the chance to battle it out for the best recipe.
It will cost £10 to enter each category of the competition. This gives the competitor plus one other person free entry to Eden on Saturday, March 2, 2013.
The event will include a full day of music, demonstrations, storytelling and tastings, along with a real ale bar with special guest ales and a grand Oggy Oscars party in the evening.
The World Pasty Championships have the full backing of the Cornish Pasty Association, the industry body that represents more than 50 bakers. The association won a long campaign to give the Duchy’s delicacy European Union Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status, which means that only pasty makers based in Cornwall who make pasties in a traditional manner and follow a traditional recipe are able to label their products as Cornish.
Tony Trenerry, Senior Sous Chef at the Eden Project, who baked a special Cornwall-shaped pasty to mark this year’s show, said: “The calibre and creativity of last year’s entries was superb and we can’t wait to see what people have got in store for this year.
“It’s a chance to show off traditional family recipes and brave flavour combinations, and have lots of fun along the way.”
To find out more about the World Pasty Championships, go to: http://www.edenproject.com/world-pasty-championships.
Foodies South West 