Steak pie comp finalists announced

The English Beef and Lamb Executive (EBLEX) has announced the finalists of the national steak pie competition.

Six chefs, including five pub chefs - will compete in a cook-off final for the title of 'National Steak Pie Champion 2007', at Westminster Catering College in London, this month.

The finalists are Paul Walker from the Five Bells Inn at Clyst Hydon, Devon; Neville Brown from the Talbot Arms in Benville, Dorset; Ashley Bignell, Wills O' Nats Inn, Meltham, West Yorkshire; Sarah Peukert, the Old Rectory Restaurant, Arrington, Hertfordshire; Carl Smith, the Guinea Grill, Mayfair, London and Martin Rudley, Ring O' Bells, Thornton, West Yorkshire.

Lord Rooker will announce the winner after the cook-off on 16 July.

Foodservice project manager for EBLEX, Hugh Judd, commented: "A great steak pie is a combination of many things including a succulent filling, tasty pastry and careful presentation. But it's the quality of the ingredients which really makes a steak pie truly great, so we were looking for chefs who were really passionate about sourcing quality ingredients and dedicated to serving delicious food."

He added: "We had a tremendous response to this competition once again this year and it has been really heartening to hear from so many creative chefs using quality ingredients and producing delicious food for their customers. The standard of entries has been incredibly high, making the first and second round judging round very difficult, but all the finalists are certainly worthy of praise."

Eighteen chefs were selected to go through to the semi-final of the competition when a 'mystery diner' tasted each of the pies in situ and selected the six finalists to compete in the cook-off.