Hampshire reveals finest

The head chef of Fuller's pub the Pilgrim Inn, Marchwood, has won a competition to find the Hampshire Dish of the Year.

Aaron Pace beat three other finalists from Fuller's-managed pubs in the competition, which challenges chefs to create a dish made with 90% of ingredients from Hampshire.

The competition runs during the month-long Hampshire Food Festival, with the finalists all featuring their entered dishes on the menu during July.

The contest was open to all 30 Fuller's managed pubs in Hampshire. Pace's winning dish was New Forest 28 day aged beef with a smoked bacon and cream sauce, carrots and fondant potato.

Runner-up was Nick Funnell, head chef of the Wykeham Arms, Winchester, with a dish of ham knuckle terrine, confit pig's cheek, black pudding, apple purée and apple crisp and pea veloute.

The other finalists were Mark Coombs, head chef of the Alice Lisle, Ringwood, and Lloyd Brady of the Kings Head, Wickham.

This was the third year of the competition.