Scotch Egg Challenge returns for 2018
For the first time in its history, 12 seats at the event will be auctioned to support community kitchen Refettorio Felix, which was launched by non-for-profit organisation Food for Soul that fights food waste and helps those in food poverty.
The auction for four pairs and four single seats will ensure those who bid the highest for the seats get a taste of each Scotch egg rustled up by the entering chefs, alongside the judges. The bidding opens at 8am on Wednesday 7 February on www.ebay.co.uk.
Blind tasting
Competition founder and manager of the Guinea Grill Oisín Rogers will be introducing the eighth challenge while author and writer Joe Warwick will compere the event.
The chefs invited to make their best creations will be blind-tasted by judges including The Guardian’s Bob Granleese and Felicity Cloake, Restaurant magazine editor Stefan Chomka as well as chef and journalist Lisa Markwell.
The shortlisted chefs are:
- Nick Gibson from the Drapers Arms, Islington, north London
- Ben Maschler from the Compasses Inn, Dinton, Wiltshire
- Matt Hunter from the Star in the City, York
- Phil Mason from the Rat Inn, Anick, Northumberland
- Stephen Englefield from the Jugged Hare, Barbican, east London
- Eugenia Paiva from the Guinea Grill, Mayfair, London
- Aidan McGee from the George and Dragon in Fitzrovia, London
- Mick Dore from the Alexandra SW19 in Wimbledon, south west London
- Gina Hopkins – 2017 winner and former head chef of the Drapers Arms, Islington, north London
- Calum Frankline from the Holborn Dining Room, Holborn, London
- Tim Anderson from Nanban in Brixton, east London
- Shaun Searley from the Quality Chop House, Clerkenwell, London
- Neil Rankin from Temper (sites in Soho and in the City of London)
- Robin Gill from the Dairy in Clapham, London
- Chris King from the Wigmore in London’s West End
- Ben Chapman from the Smoking Goat in Central London
- Victor Garvey from Rambla in Soho, London
- Mary-Ellen McTeague from the Aumbry in Manchester
- Kieran Monteiro from Boma Restaurants (sites in Parsons Green, on Wandsworth Bridge Road and Putney Bridge, London)
- Adam Hicks from the Dukes Head in Putney, London
- Chantelle Nicholson from Tredwells in Covent Garden, London
- Anna Haugh, former head chef of Bob Bob Ricard, Soho, London
- James Ramsden from Pidgin in Hackney, east London and Magpie in Mayfair, London
Winner's prize
The winner will then be invited to prepare a three-course meal in Refettorio Felix at St Cuthbert’s in Kensington, west London, using the kitchen’s daily changing ingredients supplied by London food waste charity, The Felix Project.
Should bidders be unsuccessful in winning the front-row seats, they can still sample the eggs as the Scotch Egg Challenge is open to all and free to attend from 7pm on 21 February.
