The Porthleven Pasty Competition

I had the honour of being a judge at the The Ship Inn’s pasty competition in beautiful Porthleven. What a treat! Imagine fifty pasties, all lined up, golden, and adhering to the strict (but delicious!) PGI pasty definition – side crimp and all.

While I was impressed by the sheer variety and quality, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia. It’s a little sad that the traditional Cornish crimping style seems to have faded, a victim, perhaps, of some persuasive “pasty propaganda.” I know I’m not alone in feeling this way. But, I digress… the pasties themselves were undeniably fantastic.

The classic turnip, onion, beef, and potato pasty – seasoned simply with salt and (traditionally) white pepper. There’s something so comforting and satisfying about that combination. But the creativity on display was astounding! Beyond the traditional, there were fish pasties, chickpea, meatball, curry, even a Bolognese pasty! Each one was a hearty meal in itself, showcasing top-quality ingredients. The beef in the curry pasty, in particular, was exceptional.

The event was buzzing! So many people, all enjoying the pasty-filled atmosphere. It was a real testament to the love Cornwall has for this iconic dish. The organisers had even sourced two splendid gold-painted trophies from a local business for the winners. Unfortunately, in the flurry of pasty tasting (and I did taste them all!), I’m not sure who took home the gold. I was so focused on the flavours, the textures, the sheer pasty perfection, that the winners’ names slipped my mind!

A huge thank you to The Ship Inn for inviting me!

Ann x