Spotlight on pub grub at Yorkshire Food Festival

The Publican's​ Chef of the Year, Ashley McCarthy, has demonstrated his pub food skills to visitors at the Yorkshire Food Festival.

The demo included a Trio of Callis Lamb which came about following a lunch Ashley cooked up for the West Riding branch of the International Food & Wine Society at his pub, Ye Old Sun Inn at Colton.

Ashley says: "We're known for working with local suppliers, so when the West Riding branch of the International Food & Wine Society made a lunch booking and asked if I would serve lamb from the nearby Stringer family farm, in Bishop Wilton, I was happy to oblige.

"They were visiting the farm prior to dining with us and wished to taste the lamb at its best. So, I chose to create a trio of High Callis Lamb featuring a mini Shepherds Pie, Roasted Rack and Toad in the Hole with a minted lamb sausage.

"It's tremendous to be so involved with the Festival," he says, "It provides me with such a wonderful platform from which to showcase the diverse, high quality produce that's available from the area."

Ashley and his wife Kelly have just taken on a second pub the White Swan, at Wighill, near Tadcaster. Ashley was named Chef of the Year at The Publican Food and Drink Awards 2008​.

Ye Old Sun Inn is shortlisted in the Local Food Pub of the Year and Front of House Team of the Year categories in this year's Awards.