Local Sausage competition heats up with international flavours. #Blog

Victoria Hayes
3rd March 2023

Taste Cheshire hosted the first round of their Cheshire Sausage Competition 2023 today, Thursday 2^nd March 2023, at the NOWFood Centre at the University of Chester.

Butchers from across Cheshire enter this yearly competition to see who can claim the title of Cheshire’s Best Plain Sausage and Cheshire’s Best Flavoured Sausage.

The first round of judging takes place with a panel of local sausage experts where the entrants are narrowed down to the top three in each category. These First Round Winners are then judged by members of the public at The Taste Cheshire Food and Drink Festival on Sunday 9^th April 2023 at Chester Racecourse.

This year there were 12 entrants in the first round, and the standard was very high indeed. With just a few marks separating them the Plain (pork) Sausages were enjoyed by the panel which included Head Judge and Master Butcher Steven Vaughan, from the NOW Food Centre Jeff George, from We Love Good Times Izzy Grey, Specialist Chef and Home Economist Chef Emma Shawcross, from Taste Cheshire Tori Hayes and Jake Wundke and from award winning The Chester Fields, Mark Jarvis.

The three butchers progressing to the final in the Plain Category are: –

Hayrack Butchery, Thornton-Le-Moors

Baker and Roberts, Chester

David Joinson Quality Meats, Christleton Road

The panel were impressed with the huge variety and creativity in this years Flavoured Category. With the fascinating inclusion not one but two Lamb based entries and a Chicken Sausage among the entrants. From Taste Cheshire Tori Hayes said, “It was lovely to see such diversity within our county. Some butchers embraced traditional ideas such as Olde English and some were experimental with surprising flavours from around the world, some were inspired by Morocco or the Caribbean for example. Cheshire really does have some of the best butchers in the world and it is our privilege to see their skill and innovation.”

The three butchers progressing to the final in the Flavoured Category are: –

Baker and Roberts, Chester

H. Clewlows, Nantwich

Hayrack Butchery, Thornton-Le-Moors

Head Judge Steven Vaughan said, “Its great to be back in the judging room at the NOWFood Centre. It’s a highlight of the year and it’s great to see new names on the list of butchers entering including some I know have been mentored by previous winners. Every year they surprise us and its good to see the next generation of Cheshire Butchers coming through”.

If you fancy yourself a good judge of sausages, grab a ticket for the Sunday of the Taste Cheshire Food and Drink Festival at chesterfoodanddrink.co.uk and join the public judging panel at 11am in the Chef Demonstration Tent. Round two…is down to you!

Photo Credit : Simon Warburton