Judging the best that Lincolnshire can offer

Alan Stennett represented Lincolnshire Life as one of the judges at this year’s Lincolnshire County Foods 2010 Poacher Competition and found the prospect of so many sausage rolls just a bit daunting.
How many Lincolnshire sausages do you like at one time? Two, three, perhaps four? How about more than thirty? Possibly a couple of dozen slices of pork pie or fifty rashers of bacon? Those were just some of the challenges facing the judges at the Lincolnshire County Foods 2010 Poacher Competition.

You might think ‘What a fantastic job – just eating fine Lincolnshire produce’, and you would be right in, for example, the stuffed chine category, where a dozen entries might be enjoyed, but the folk who have to work their way through all those sausages tend not to have bangers and mash for supper for some time afterwards!

As the judge representing Lincolnshire Life, I was fortunate enough to have a middle-sized class, but the rows of sausage rolls that faced me and my fellow judges was still a daunting sight. We checked whether they were well filled, tested the taste and texture of both filling and pastry and assessed them all against a standard set of marks, so my preference for a short crust pastry didn’t get carried through to bias the results. Our expert judge, baker Peter Welbourn, described the winner as ‘just as mother would have made it’.

All round the room, more than thirty other judges – one expert and two consumers per class – sliced, sniffed, touched and tasted the best that Lincolnshire has to offer. For some of the classes there were very difficult decisions to make. How do you compare a Moroccan lamb sausage with a chicken, honey and mustard or one made from the pork of Mangaliza curly-coated pigs – not quite the traditional Lincolnshire Curlycoat, but perhaps producing a similar product? The judges considered their opinions, debated the relative merits, then made their awards, with the final task being the totting up of the marks awarded in all the speciality Lincolnshire classes. The strong overall performance of Hargrave and Son of Pinchbeck resulted in them being awarded the title of Lincolnshire Butcher of the Year.

The competition will be featured in a Channel 4 television series in the New Year, and presenter Olly Smith commented on how fortunate Lincolnshire was to be able to offer such a wide range of speciality local produce, and to still have plenty of local butchers ready and willing to supply them.

POACHER COMPETITION 2010
Organised by Lincolnshire County Foods Champions

PORK PIE
Handsons of East Kirkby

STUFFED CHINE
Lakings of Louth

LINCOLNSHIRE SAUSAGE
Lincoln Co-operative Ltd

SPECIALITY SAUSAGE
George Adams and Son (Retail) Ltd
(Moroccan Lamb)

HASLET
David Tomlinson Butcher – Winteringham

STEAK PIE
George Adams and Son (Retail) Ltd

BURGER
G Simpson Butcher Ltd – Beef and Stilton

LINCOLNSHIRE PLUMBREAD
Moden’s Lincolnshire Plum Bread Ltd

SAUSAGE ROLLS
G Simpson Butcher Ltd

BACON
W Hargrave and Son

INNOVATIONS
Odling Bros Ltd

LINCOLNSHIRE BUTCHER OF THE YEAR
W Hargrave and Son

PORK PIE
Gold Award
Handsons (Amanda Handson)
Silver Award
Southern and Thorpe – Ruskington
George Adams & Sons (Retail) Ltd
Pick’s Butchers Ltd – Dorrington
Meridian Meats – Louth
W Hargraves & Son – Pinchbeck
A W Garrill
Bronze Award
D Tomlinson – Winteringham
Meridian Meats – Louth
Jackson’s Butchers – Louth
Trevor Fairburn (Butchers) Ltd
Ashtons
Tony Arber Butchers Ltd
Curtis of Lincoln
Lakings of Louth
G Simpson Butchers Ltd
Trevor Sharpe

STUFFED CHINE
Silver Award
George Adams & Sons (Retail) Ltd
Trevor Fairburn (Butchers) Ltd
Jacksons Butcher Ltd
Meridian Meats – Louth
Meridian Meats – Louth
W Hargrave & Son – Pinchbeck
Curtis of Lincoln
Lakings of Louth
Bronze Award
Handsons (Mark Handson)
G Simpson Butchers Ltd
H E Wilkinson & Son

LINCOLNSHIRE SAUSAGE
Gold Award
Lincoln Co-operative Ltd
Silver Award
Trevor Fairburn (Butchers) Ltd
Uncle Henry’s Farm Shop – Baz Jarvis
W Hargrave and Son
David Tomlinson, Butcher
Curtis of Lincoln
G Simpson, Butchers Ltd
G Simpson, Butchers Ltd
Bronze Award
George Adams & Sons (Retail) Ltd
Meridian Meats of Louth
Meridian Meats of Louth
Mundey Butchers Ltd
Picks Butchers Ltd
Sunnyside Up
Minting Park Farm Meats
Lakings of Louth
Curtis of Lincoln
Southern and Thorpe
Grasmere Farm
North End Butchers (J White)
H E Wilkinson & Son
A W Garrill
David Tomlinson Butcher

SPECIALITY SAUSAGE
Gold Award
George Adams & Sons (Retail) Ltd – Moroccan Lamb
G Simpson Butchers Ltd – Pork and Apricot
Silver Award
George Adams & Sons (Retail) Ltd – Pork and Leek
Trevor Fairburn (Butchers) Ltd – Lime and Sweet Chilli
Handsons – Mark Handson – Mangalitza
Uncle Henry’s Farm Shop – Louise Jarvis – Chilli and Tomato
Uncle Henry’s Farm Shop – Baz Jarvis – Caramelised Onion
Ashtons – Beef and Chilli
Minting Park Farm Meats – Pork and Leek
Tony Arber, Butchers Ltd – Thai Chilli
Grasmere Farm – Rutland Sausage
Bronze Award
Trevor Fairburn (Butchers) Ltd – Honey and Apricot
Trevor Fairburn (Butchers) Ltd – Smoked Garlic
Jackson Butchers Ltd – Chicken Honey and Mustard
Jackson Butchers Ltd – Lamb Curry and Chutney
R J Hirst, Family Butchers – Brunswick
W Hargrave and Son – Pork and Leek
Minting Park Farm Meats – Pork and Chilli
Tony Arber, Butchers Ltd – Smoked Paprika and Red Pepper
Odling Bros Ltd – Dragon Breath
Lakings of Louth – Gluten Free
G Simpson Butcher – Cracked Black Pepper
Southern and Thorpe – Pork and Caramelised Onion
Grasmere Farm – Pork and Stilton
H E Wilkinson and Son – Pork and Apple
Uncle Henry’s Farm Shop – Louise Jarvis – Chicken Sage and Onion
Uncle Henry’s Farm Shop – Louise Jarvis – Mango and Ginger

HASLET
Gold Award
Trevor Fairburn (Butchers) Ltd
Uncle Henry’s Farm Shop – Baz Jarvis
W Hargrave and Son
David Tomlinson Butcher
Grasmere Farm
G Simpson Butchers Ltd
Silver Award
Handsons Butchers – Mark Handson
Curtis of Lincoln
G Simpson Butchers Ltd
H E Wilkinson & Son
Meridian Meats of Louth
Bronze Award
George Adams and Sons (Retail) Ltd
Pocklington Bakery
Picks Butchers Ltd
Lakings of Louth
Southern and Thorpe
Elite Meats

STEAK PIE
Gold Award
George Adams and Sons (Retail) Ltd
Trevor Fairburn Butchers Ltd
Silver Award
A W Garrill
Bronze Award
R J Hirst Family Butchers
Picks Butchers Ltd
David Tomlinson, Butcher
Tony Arber Butchers Ltd
G Simpson Butchers Ltd
Southern and Thorpe
Grasmere Farm

BURGERS
Gold Award
Trevor Fairburn Butchers Ltd – Steak
Trevor Fairburn Butchers Ltd – Pork
Trevor Fairburn Butchers Ltd – Minted Lamb
Jackson Butchers Ltd – Lamb Mint and Rosemary
Meridian Meats of Louth – Beef and Sweet Chilli
W Hargrave and Son – Pork and Apple
Lincoln Co-operative Ltd – Beef
David Tomlinson Butcher – Pork and Apple
David Tomlinson Butcher – Lamb
David Tomlinson Butcher – Beef
G Simpson Butchers Ltd – Beef and Stilton
G Simpson Butchers Ltd – Sausage, Bacon and Poacher Cheese
G Simpson Butchers Ltd – Beef, Sundried Tomato and Cheese
Elite Meats – Venison and Cherry
Elite Meats – Pork and Beef Combo
H Wilkinson and Sons – Lamb
A W Garrill – Spicy Pork and Apple
Silver Award
George Adams and Sons (Retail) Ltd – Lamb
Handsons Mark Handson – Steak
Minting Park Farm Meats – Lamb and Coriander
Minting Park Farm Meats – Red Onion & Steak
Lincolnshire Co-operative Ltd – Lamb and Mint
Lincolnshire Co-operative Ltd – Beef with Sundried Tomato & Olive
Odling Bros Ltd – Venison
H E Wilkinson and Son – Beef
Bronze Award
Meridian Meats – Sausage
Odling Bros Ltd – Rabbit
Lakings of Louth – Beef

PLUM BREAD
Gold Award
Moden’s Lincolnshire Plum Bread
Silver Award
Welbourne’s Bakery
Bronze Award
Pocklington Bakery
Curtis of Lincoln

SAUSAGE ROLLS
Gold Award
Jacksons Butchers
Meridian Meats of Louth
Mundey Butchers Ltd
Mundey Butchers Ltd
Uncle Henry’s Farm Shop – Louise Jarvis
W Hargrave and Son
David Tomlinson Butcher
Tony Arber Ltd
G Simpson Butchers Ltd
Southern and Thorpe
A W Garrill
Silver Award
George Adams and Sons Retail) Ltd
Moden’s Lincolnshire Plumb Bread Ltd
Pocklington Bakery
Meridian Meats of Louth
Meridian Meats of Louth
Welbourne’s Bakery
Ashtons
Odling Bros. Ltd
Curtis of Lincoln
Grasmere Farm
Trevor Fairburn Butchers Ltd
Bronze Award
R J Hirst Family Butchers
Picks Butchers Ltd
Curtis of Lincoln
Lakings of Louth
H E Wilkinson and Son

BACON
Gold Award
Trevor Fairburn Butchers
Trevor Fairburn Butchers
Mundey Butchers Ltd
Uncle Henry’s Farm Shop – Louise Jarvis
W Hargrave and Son
W Hargrave and Son
Silver Award
Jackson Butchers Ltd
R J Hirst Family Butchers
Sunnyside Up
Minting Park Farm Meats
Lakings of Louth
Southern and Thorpe
Bronze Awards
Meridian Meats
Meridian Meats
Handsons – Mark Handson
Lincolnshire Co-operative Ltd
Odling Bros Ltd
Curtis of Lincoln
G Simpson Butchers Ltd
G Simpson Butchers Ltd
Grasmere Farm
Grasmere Farm

INNOVATIONS
Gold Award
Odling Bros Ltd – Duck and Orange Pie
Silver Award
Sunnyside Up – Sydney Surprise
Uncle Henry’s Farm Shop – Louise Jarvis – Rustic Pork Terrine
Uncle Henry’s Farm Shop – Louise Jarvis – Meat Stuffed Mushroom
Uncle Henry’s Farm Shop – Louise Jarvis – Poachers Parcel
Odling Bros Ltd – Pork and Stilton
G Simpson Butchers Ltd – Mediterranean Tenderloin
Elite Meats – Venison Tornedo
Bronze Award
George Adams & Sons (Retail) Ltd – Lincoln Red Beef Pasty
Jackson Butchers – Walnut, Mushroom, Poacher Cheese quiche
Pocklington Bakery – Steak and Ale Pie
Ashtons – Turkey en Croute
Ashtons – Stuffed Belly Pork
Odling Bros Ltd – Turkey Pie
Odling Bros Ltd – Venison Pie
Lakings of Louth – Beef and Onion Pie
G Simpsons Butchers – Chicken Parcel stuffed with Lincolnshire Sausagemeat and Apricot
Southern and Thorpe – Pork and Pâté Pie
Elite Meats – Pepperoom

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