The first ever World Pasty Championships was held this weekend at the Eden Project in Cornwall.
The competition drew entries from professionals and enthusiastic amateurs both locally and from as far afield as the USA, all competing to be named the best in their chosen category.
The winner of both the Cornish Pasty Professional category and the Open Savoury Professional was Graham Cornish of Ginsters, who lives in Liskeard, Cornwall. His Cornish pasty was a traditional recipe of skirt beef and vegetables, while his open savoury pasty contained a selection of smoked Cornish fish, parsley, saffron and Cornish clotted cream.
Billy Deakin of Mount Hawke, near Redruth, triumphed in the Cornish Pasty Amateur category while Suzanne Manson of Bristol scooped the Open Savoury Amateur category with her pasty containing wild rabbit poached in cider and leeks, finished with peas and lemon zest.
All entrants in the Cornish Pasty categories conformed to a traditional recipe, as laid down by the European Union Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). This 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 pasties.
The event attracted more than 100 entries from all over the world, and winners were decided by a panel of 21 judges who awarded marks for taste, texture, appearance, pastry crimp and technical expertise.
“I’m humbled to win this award,” said Graham Cornish. “From the age of five I was making pasties. The secret of a great pasty is using the freshest local ingredients. Eden is a brilliant venue and this event raises the profile of the Cornish pasty. It’s good for local sourcing and local farming and it’s brilliant to get people eating more pasties.”
The top three in each category were:
Cornish Pasty Professional
1 - Graham Cornish of Ginsters in Callington, Cornwall
2 - Ryan Smedley of Chough Bakery in Padstow, Cornwall
3 - Jason Jobling of Warrens Bakery in Penzance, Cornwall
Cornish Pasty Amateur
1 - Billy Deakin of Mount Hawke, Cornwall
2 - Kathy Vian of Sticker, Cornwall
3 - Tamsin Bunt of Penwithick, Cornwall
Open Savoury Professional
1 - Graham Cornish of Ginsters in Callington, Cornwall
2 - Luisa Ead of Chough Bakery in Padstow, Cornwall
3 - Jay Sebastian of Bridgeport Pasty Company, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Open Savoury Amateur
1 - Suzanne Manson of Bristol
2 - Laura Jayne Atkinson of Truro, Cornwall
3 - Gem Witchalls of Truro, Cornwall
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