Cheshire's most succulent sausages have been given gruelling taste tests as an annual competition has made its return.
Taste Cheshire hosted the first round of its Cheshire Sausage Competition 2024, with judging held at the NOWFood Centre at the University of Chester.
Judges Mark Javis and Claire Hobson of the Chesterfields. Pictures: Simon Warburton.
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, March 31 at Chester Racecourse.
A selection of flavoured sausages. Pictures: Simon Warburton.
Once again, the first round of the competition was fiercely competitive, and the standard was very high indeed.
There were just a few marks separating the plain (pork) Sausages which were enjoyed by the panel, which included head judge and long-standing sausage taster Izzy Grey of We Love Good Times, from the NOW Food Centre Ian Dawson, specialist chef and home economist chef Emma Shawcross, from Taste Cheshire Chrissy Cunningham and Rick Nieto and, representing local venues, Jim Dorrington of Artezzan Restaurant and bar and Mark Jarvis and Claire Hobson of The Chester Fields.
The three butchers progressing to the final in the plain category are:
- Hayrack Butchery, Thornton-Le-Moors
- Muff's of Bromborough
- David Joinson Quality Meats, Christleton Road
Every year the competition becomes harder and harder, to judge and the panel expressed how great it was to see the quality and variety of local produce that were involved.
The Taste Cheshire Food & Drink Festival will take place this Easter. Pictures: Simon Warburton.
Jim Dorrington, director of operations of Artezzan restaurant and Bar, said: “It was an honour to be invited to join the panel of judges and taste so many great entries. The level of competition was exceptional. I have found my new favourite sausage.”
The three butchers progressing to the final in the flavoured category are:
- Geoff Hughes Family Butcher, Chester Market
- The Lambing Shed, Knutsford
- Hayrack Butchery, Thornton-Le-Moors
CEO Briony Wilson said: "Once again the butchers of Cheshire come out in force and put their best foot forward – after 10 years of being involved in this competition, I didn’t think I could be surprised by the flavours and yet every year it happens.
Judging and giving points to each sausage sampled. Pictures: Simon Warburton.
"I can’t wait to bring these entry to the food and drink festival this year and get the public reaction. Sausages are a British staple and can be incorporate into dishes in so many different ways, the concepts that the master Butchers of Cheshire bring to our shops and plates is incredible.
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!
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