Pubs vie for steak pie crown

Proving that the pub is the natural home of the pie, pubs have taken the lion's share - or at least the bull's share - of the nominations in the National Steak Pie Competition 2007.

Eighteen chefs - and their pies - have been selected to go through to the mystery dining stage of the competiton after preliminary judging by the organisers, the English Beef and Lamb Executive (EBLEX). Of these, 13 are pubs or pub restaurants.

EBLEX foodservice project manager Hugh Judd said: "Ultimately it's the quality of the ingredients which makes a steak pie truly great, and the judges are looking for chefs who are passionate about sourcing quality ingredients and dedicated to serving delicious food.

"Some of the top pie-makers in the country have entered the competition this year, so it's going to be a tough but exciting final."

During the mystery dining round, judges will turn up at the premises unannounced to sample and score the pie on site. Six finalists will then be selected to go through to a championship cook-off final at Westminster Kingsway College on July 16.

The mystery visit finalists are:

• Chris Matthews, Ship Inn, Essex: Steak, Kidney and Murphy's Ale Pie
• Dennis Peel, the Mill Inn, Suffolk: Steak & Ale Pie
• Neville Brown, Talbot Arms, Dorset: Steak & Ale Pie
• David 'Billy' Brown, the Hare Arms, Norfolk: Steak & Mushroom Pie with Guinness & Port
• Antony Williams, Williams Arms, Devon: Steak & 'Chip' Pie
• Tom Noon, Travellers Rest, West Yorkshire: Tommy's Pie
• Ashley Bignell, Wills O' Nats Inn, Holmfirth: the Geordie Pie
• Adam Howarth, Wills O' Nats Inn, Meltham, Holmfirth: The "Yorkshire Italian Job"
• Sarah Peukert, Old Rectory Restaurant, Hertfordshire: Wimpole's Raised Steak & Mushroom Pie
• Ron Turner, The Griffin, Cheshire: Steak & Holt's Ale Pie
• Nicola Prior, Nic's Restaurant, Kent: Steak & Horseradish Pie
• Nick White, the Bull Inn & Restaurant, Wiltshire: Royal Gloucestershire Steak & Ale Pie
• Nigel Maud, the New Inn, Herefordshire: Steak, Mushroom & Ale Pie
• Carl Smith, the Guinea Grill, London: Steak & Mushroom Pie
• Martin Rudley, Ring O' Bells, Bradford: Diced Steak & Country Vegetable in Abbot Ale & Thyme Sauce Encased in a Caramelised Shallot & Sage Shortcrust Pastry
• Jason Howlett, Ring O' Bells, Bradford: Steak, Minced Lamb & Haggis Pie, Encased in Shortcrust Pastry & Topped with Horseradish Mashed Potato
• Paul Walker, the Five Bells Inn, Devon: Citrus Beef, Leek, Thyme and Pickled KumQuat Pie in a Potato Pastry Basket
• Di Shenton, the Five Bells Inn, Cullompton, Devon: Five Bells & O'Hanlon's Pie