Latest News Events Press Review SUNSHINE ON SATURDAY, BUT SHOWERS ON THE CHEFS 14 May 2008 Blackmore Vale Magazine After a week of solid rain, the break in the weather came at exactly the right time for Shaftesbury Local Food Festival's Farmers' Market and Party in the High Street on Saturday. Unfortunately the luck didn't hold, and the rain arrived with a vengeance on Sunday, flooding Ben Rutter's outdoor barbecue in Bell Street, drowning the Shaftesbury Arts Centre street theatre's St George & The Dragon performance, and buckling awnings at the Swans Yard Food & Craft Fair. A small but captivated audience braved the elements to see the professional chefs battle it out to produce three dishes each, using lamb neck fillet donated by Prime Cuts butchers, a brown trout donated by Mere Fish Farm, and bison mince donated by Bush Farm Bison Centre. Local pub chefs Michael Aggett, David Armstrong-Reed, and Sean Demaine all devised completely different ways of using the three core products. Judges Bob Walter MP, County Cllr Tim Cook, and Festival organiser Tamara Essex were the ones lucky enough to get first tastings of the finished plates - all of which were presented beautifully despite the difficult conditions of cooking on a small barbecue in torrential rain. The loyal public that had watched closely throughout wildly varying weather were rewarded with forks and napkins so that they too could sample the dishes and cast their votes. "That was very close indeed" confessed Bob Walter MP "and it shows what high standards our local pubs are offering." After much deliberation the certificate finally went to David Armstrong-Reed of the Royal Oak at Motcombe who impressed the judges by demonstrating smoking the trout in woodchips and walnut smoke, and because he allowed the fine local lamb and bison produce to show their own flavours. However Michael's bison meatballs with pasta and tomato sauce, and Sean's lamb in a blueberry reduction made it a close contest and judges and public alike agreed these are chefs to follow wherever they go. Winner of the Shaftesbury Local Food Festival chef competition, and Shaftesbury Local Food Festival chef of the year - David Armstrong-Jones of the Royal Oak at Motcombe David Wins Title David Armstrong-Reed wins the highly acclaimed award of Shaftesbury Festival Chef of the Year. In the final were David Armstrong-Reed, Sean Demaine (Angel at Hindon) and Mikey Aggett (The Museum at Farnham). The chefs were given all the same ingredients and had to cook their meals with only the aid of a barbeque - it dident help the chefs that on the day of the final the heavens opened! David was delighted with the result. Call: 01747 828328  or  Fax: 01747 828960 Copyright 2005 The Grove Arms - Designed by The Laughing Buddha IT Solutions