"I popped into my local the other day and had the shepherd's pie. He was furious."
With apologies to Tommy Cooper, some dishes were just made for pubs. The Publican has joined forces with Major International, manufacturer of stocks and sauces, to find a world-beating recipe for shepherd's pie.
David Bryant, managing director of Major International, says: "The Great British Shepherd's Pie competition is a wonderful chance to celebrate and support the UK's most popular main course dishes.
"Shepherd's pie is a national treasure and can be found on pub menus throughout the UK. We're looking for chefs to push the boundaries with the traditional staple ingredients of minced lamb, onions and potatoes and come up with new recipes giving shepherd's pie an innovative twist and wow factor."
Five finalists will be selected from paper entries and invited to prepare their recipe from scratch at Major's new Innovation Centre in Northamptonshire later this year
The competitors will be asked to cook six portions of their chosen dish in 60 minutes and to explain how they have used a Major product, such as concentrated lamb stock paste or lamb powder, in the recipe. The team of judges from the Craft Guild of Chefs and the British Culinary Federation will be headed by Major International development chef Brian Eastment.
The first prize is a champagne reception, dinner and overnight accommodation at a five-star London hotel and two tickets to a top London show. The second prize winner will win £200 of Continental Chef Supplies (CCS) vouchers and the third-placed runner-up will win £100 of CCS vouchers.
The three finalists will also win a year's Craft Guild of Chefs membership and a year's membership to the British Culinary Federation.
Free product samples are available from Major International to use in recipes, which should include at least one product from the range, including maribases, stocks and demi-glaces. To get samples email info@majorint.com with your name, job title, company name and address.
Winning recipes will be added to Major's online recipe database and will be available to download from Major International during British Food Fortnight 2009, running from September 19 to October 4, 2009.
Entries should be emailed for the attention of Brian Eastment at info@majorint.com by May 1, 2009, and marked The Publican Great British Shepherd's Pie competition. Entries should include the name, contact details and place of work of the entrant. Usual competition rules apply.