EBLEX English Steak Pie Competition 2007

EBLEX English Steak Pie Competition 2007

As gastro pubs sweep the country, there remain some traditional English dishes that we will always associate with our true pubs and surely the steak pie must be one of those. It is therefore no surprise that pubs account for 16 of the 18 semi-finalists in the competition to find the National Steak Pie Champion.

As the competition moves to its next stage, judges will be turning up unannounced at the pubs' doors to sample the pies, making it also an ideal time for anyone to do the same! If these pies are usually excellent, just think what they could be with judges expected...

For a full list of the semi-finalists plus previous winners, go to EBLEX English Steak Pie Competition 2007.

Today's participating pub: The Crown Inn in Taunton, Somerset.
Prizes offered: A champagne dinner for two.

The Pub Walker
MyFavouritePubWalks.com
Free 2-monthly newsletter (NO spamming)

The Publican Pub Food Awards 2007

The Publican Pub Food Awards 2007

I always keep my eyes open for award-winning pubs that could be candidates for a future pub walk and The Publican often features these.

This award-winning magazine is clearly targeted at publicans but often has articles of interest to the pub-going community. The latest item I noted was the launch of their 2007 search for Pub of the Year with a deadline for entries of 3rd August 2007.

The magazine is encouraging entries across the board from country freehouses to inner city gastro pubs and food focused pub companies large and small. The 14 categories include seafood to alfresco and you can see further details and last year's winner at The Publican Pub Food Awards 2007. I shall look forward to seeing the winners later in the year and will include them here.

Today's pub walk: Sailor's Return in East Chaldon, Dorset.

The Pub Walker
MyFavouritePubWalks.com
Free 2-monthly newsletter (NO spamming)

Open Farm Sunday - 10 June 2007

Open Farm Sunday - 10 June 2007

Anyone who appreciates the English countryside knows that farms are important and play a critical role as custodians of our landscape. However we often have very little understanding of what farming today is all about.

Open Farm Sunday is a national day organised by LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) with the aim of showing how farmers have to balance their care of the environment with their fundamental need to produceing safe, wholesome and affordable food.

We often have a distorted view of the farmer's life and this is an ideal opportunity for farmers to help change that. It is also a great way for children to be introduced to the countryside and all the pleasures of walking (farm walks are a common feature on the farms).

Last year was a pilot for this event and involved nearly 300 farms. This year LEAF have high hopes that it will be even bigger. To find out more, as well as details of an event near you, click on Open Farm Sunday.

Today's participating pub: The Cyder House in Shackleford, Surrey.
Prizes offered: £40 meal voucher, 2-course meal for two and bottle of champagne.

The Pub Walker
MyFavouritePubWalks.com
Free 2-monthly newsletter (NO spamming)

Real Ale as Cartoon Characters

Real Ale as Cartoon Characters

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has done huge amounts to promote survival of the community pub and I'm right behind them. Sometimes though I think they can seem a bit intense about their cause so its great to see them displaying a lighter side with their latest promotion.

Entitled "Find your perfect drinking partner", they have commissioned the creation of a set of clever cartoon characters, each one representing a different type of beer. For example, imagine:

CHARACTER OF A DARK MILD: Usually tall, dark and mysterious. Smooth, suave and effortlessly tasteful.

Got the picture? To see the cartoon and the other descriptions with their cartoons too, click on real ale as cartoon characters.

Today's pub walk: The Queen's Head in Brandeston, Suffolk.

The Pub Walker
MyFavouritePubWalks.com
Free 2-monthly newsletter (NO spamming)

Easy to download, share and review pub walks

Easy to download, share and review pub walks online

OK, we didn't get it right first time. But just take another look at MyFavouritePubWalks.com now! We listened to the feedback we received from our fellow pub walkers (thanks everybody!) and have made the whole site simpler to use. The main changes include:

• one-time registration - whether you are submitting your favourite pub walks, just downloading pub walks or even becoming a participating pub.

• email your own favourite pub walks to us - no longer any need to access the secure area of the site to upload the details (we do that for you now).

• the instructions on how to submit your favourite pub walks are now much simpler.
  

So with only 4 weeks left to submit your entry for The Nation's Favourite Pub Walk, why not join in and go for one of the prizes...

Today's participating pub: Live and let Live in Whitbourne, Worcs.
Prizes offered: A meal for two.

The Pub Walker
MyFavouritePubWalks.com
Free 2-monthly newsletter (NO spamming)