Smoking Goat takes Young's Scotch Egg Challenge prize for a second year
Shoreditch's Smoking Goat has yet again won the Young's Scotch Egg Challenge, taking the trophy for the second year in a row.
The hotly disputed title was handed to chef Ali Borer for his pork and offal laab egg at the Canonbury pub in Islington. Judges included cook and restaurateur Simon Rimmer, Sunday Times food editor Lisa Markwell, Restaurant Magazine's Stefan Chomka and beer expert and author Melissa Cole.
Oisín Rogers, landlord of Young's the Guinea Grill and founder of Scotch Egg Challenge said: "I always think Scotch Egg Challenge gets better every year, but I truly think this was the best year yet. An outstanding field of contestants from all over the country came together in a spirit of camaraderie which does our industry great credit, and the level of commitment, skill and innovation shown was heartwarming."
Second place was handed to Robbie Maclean of the Montagu Arms in Hampshire while third went to James Ramsden of Pidgin in east London for his classic picnic egg, served cold.
Highest new entry was awarded to Mark Taft, executive chef of the Seafood Pub Company, who produced a spiced quail & lamb Scotch egg with an onion bhaji crust. Andy Waugh of Mac & Wild's venison, black pudding & haggis Scotch egg was highly commended, while Callum Franklin of the Holborn Dining Room won ‘most liked egg on social media' after his egg gained more than 1,900 likes on Instagram.
The evening benefited hospitality charity Only A Pavement Away, with all proceeds from VIP tickets sales and contestants' entry fees being donated.
Competitors:
Ali Borer, Smoking Goat Luke Frankie, the Drapers Arms James Ramsden, Pidgin Robbie Maclean, The Montagu Arms Mark Taft, Executive Chef, The Seafood Pub Company Robin Gill, the Dairy Calum Franklin, Holborn Dining Room Chris King, the Wigmore Aurelien Durand, the Coach Tomos Parry, Brat Pawel Wloch, the Alexandra SW19 Trevor Hunt, Golden Lion Camden Kate Ahrens, Geese & Fountain Andy Waugh, Mac & Wild Catherine Button, the Betjeman Arms Ian Howard, Roast Nigel Mendham, Dukes London Donna Berry, The Swan, Bampton Trevor Tobin, Old Compton Brasserie Richard Falk, Lino