Orchid batters up for Yorkshire Pudding Day

The humble Yorkshire Pudding is set to take centre stage in pubs up and down the country as British Yorkshire Pudding Day looms.

Sunday February 3 has been declared the day to celebrate the mainstay of Sunday lunches. Among those taking part is Orchid Group, whose carvery chefs are letting their imagination run riot.

Set the challenge of an eye-catching Yorkshire Pudding Sculpture contest, creations from a Yorkshire Pudding Tree and the leaning tower of Pisa to a full size cow and a tractor are promised..

Rufus Hall, CEO at the Orchid Group will be judging proceedings in three stringent areas - creativity, appearance and, of course, taste, with a prize to be awarded to the winning chef.

Orchid serves 53,450 Yorkshire Puddings a week across its 35 strong carvery estate, enough to make a tower 48 times as tall as the Central Tower at York Minste. the pudding's spiritual home

Nick Morris, chef at the Marquis of Granby in Esher, bakes up to 7000 Yorkshire Puddings every week. He says: "My top tips for the perfect Yorkshire Puddings are never to leave the batter out at room temperature, to ensure the oven & tins are hot, hot, hot and never open the oven door while cooking!"

Orchid has nine more outlets due to be upgraded to its contemporary carvery format over the next few months. All carveries are Red Tractor licensees.

Other pubs taking part include the Fenwick Arms, which featured on Grodon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares ​on TV. ​Licensees Brian and Elaine Rey, who launched the Campaign for Real Gravy as a result of the programme, will be making a feature of the pub's puddings.

Ramsay said the pub had the best roast beef and Yorkshire puddings in the nation, and Brian has responded to queries from around the world since the programme, helping people get their puds to rise.

At the Sportsman Inn at Ploughcroft, near Halifax, Yorkshire Pudding Day will feature a starter of herby Yorkshires with a basil and tomato sauce, with the menu also offering delights such toad in the hole, spicy Yorkshires with chill, and chocolate flavoured Yorky puds with custard for dessert.

For more information visit the British Yorkshire Pudding Day website by clicking on the link on the right. For Orchid development chef Brendan Corder's Yorksire pudding recipe, use the 'related stories' link.