Dorset Apples With Real Character

Other English counties have their own famous local dishes - just think of Lancashire Hot Pot or Yorkshire pudding - but Dorset has none.

Until Now!

After weeks of collecting sumptuous recipes using Dorset's finest ingredients, the 24th of October 2006 saw the Hall & Woodhouse Visitors Centre play host to the deciding 'Cook Off'. We received lots of delicious entries, but we managed to narrow it down to eight 'mouth watering' finalists:

• John Parkes with his John's Dorset Panhandle
• Janet Pook with her Melcombe Toasted Venison
• Martin Aldridge with his Dorset Country Lamb Pie
• Greg Coomer with his Dorset Apple Cake
• Ben Thebe with his - Braised Dorset Pork Loin with real ale glaze and Dorset Blue Vinny Sauce
• David Wootton with his Great Dorset Sausage Fayre
• Daneil Green with his Dorset Golden Ham
• Philip Metcalf with his Traditional Lyme Bay Fish Pie

The event was a unique opportunity for each finalist to come to our kitchens and present their dishes to the judges and members of the press and public.

With substantial local press coverage and TV from BBC South, the event was a great success!

Tasting the delicious dishes and choosing our winner, were our esteemed judging panel including our very own Vice Chairman Mark Woodhouse, Head Of Food Alec Howard, Gill Meller, Head Chef at River Cottage, MasterChef Finalist Rose Bentley (Kinross & Render), Blackmore Vale Journalist Fanny Charles, Daily Echo Journalist Emma Joseph and The Publican Journalist John Porter.

And, after tasting, smelling, discussing and much deliberation the judges settled on Dorset's National Dish, Greg Coomer's Dorset Apple Cake! Now finally, Dorset has a dish worthy to represent it and we at Hall & Woodhouse intend to tell everyone about it!