The celebrated World Pasty Championships are to return to the Eden Project for the third year running on the Saturday before St Piran’s Day.
March 1, 2014 is announced as the big date for the annual celebration of the dish Cornwall gifted to the globe, culminating in the much-anticipated Oggy Oscar awards.
The competition sees amateur and professional bakers from far and near compete by baking traditional Cornish pasties or variations on the classic beef, onion, potato and turnip recipe.
In the coming weeks, Eden will announce full entry categories and rules for the World Pasty Championships 2014 on www.edenproject.com.
Tony Trenerry, Eden’s Head Chef, said: “It is exciting to think that in a few months’ time we will be firing up the ovens again for this great celebration of the food Cornwall is most famous for. We have seen some brilliant baking at this event over the last couple of years, traditional and original.
“Whether you are from Pensilva or Pennsylvania, Tywardreath or Tobago, whether you like shortcrust or flaky, beef or cheese, whether you are an amateur or pro, everyone can enter and can pit their wits against the best. This is the Olympics of the Oggy. Let’s roll out the pastry and get crimping again.”
The first-ever event of its kind was staged at the Eden Bakery in March 2012 and was hailed a great success with more than 100 competitors taking part in a day-long celebration. At the second championships in March this year (2013) entries topped 120.
The event has the full backing of the Cornish Pasty Association, the industry body which represents more than 50 bakers and champions the world-famous savoury.
In 2011, after a long campaign the association won European Union Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status which means that only pasty makers based in Cornwall who make pasties in a traditional manner and follow a traditional recipe are able to label their products as Cornish.
Elaine Ead, Chair of the Association, said: “We have given our full backing to the World Pasty Championships at the Eden Project right from the start and we are really looking forward to the third event next March 1. It’s a great competition on all levels and a really fun and fascinating day out.
“We would like to encourage amateur bakers of all ages and companies from Cornwall, the rest of the UK and overseas to take part in this grand celebration of our favourite food.”