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The Lincolnshire Poacher Competition was established many years ago and has moved around the county to different venues. Originally named the Lincolnshire Pork Butcher of the Year the competition is held on alternate years. Local butchers are invited to offer their products for assessment by a panel of judges from the farming and food industries.
Lincolnshire County Foods established to develop the speciality food sector within the county. The competition was designed to promote Lincolnshire Pork products and encourage high standards of butchery. After two competitions it became recognised by the meat trade as pretigious award.
Competitors are asked to submit:-
- Pork Sausage
- Pork Pies
- Stuffed Chine
- Plum Bread
- Dry Cured Bacon
These products are judged and marked out of 100 points. Appearance raw and cooked, texture and composition is taken into account when marking. Eating quality is judged and the flavour and seasoning levels assessed.
The business with the highest mark across the range of products receives the winning accolade.
It is important to enter every class - the first four classes have been retained as the main part of the competition, but now includes haslet.
Other classes have been added to include:-
- Steak Pies
- Beef, Lamb & Pork Burgers
- Sausages Rolls
- Open classes for Pies & Sausages
- Innovative Products, including vegetarian foods.
All judging is held away from public gaze. Results are announced only when all results are correlated and checked.
Laking’s of Louth have entered each year and have achieved much success. We have won the competition on four occasions. The competition is closely contested by several Louth butchers who have also taken the spoils of victory. This is something of which we, the Louth meat trade, are proud.
We have won a gold award for Stuffed Chine on several occasions and won the class outright on at least three occasions.
One of our innovative products was class champion last year with our pasta bake with Lincolnshire Poacher Cheese. The distributor of this cheese is the judge of the Stuffed Chine class.
Our spring onion and leek sausage were awarded gold by our local radio farming correspondent, who judged the open sausage class last year.
Sponsership and support has been provided by the Meat & Livestock Commision, Lincolnshire Quality Beef and Lamb, NFU. Mutual, Lincolnshire Agricultural Society, Park View Farm Foods and Lakeland Limited.
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