Your chance to enter the World Pasty Championships

AKERS, whether you consider it a Devon delicacy or a characteristic part of Cornish cuisine, the pasty is a South West favourite. If you just happen to be especially skilled at hand-crimping delicious pastry parcels, you might want to enter this year's World Pasty Championships.

Cooks from around the globe – domestic or professional – are invited to sign up for the second annual World Pasty Championships at the Eden Project, which takes place on Saturday, March 2.

In the first World Pasty Championships at Eden last March, more than 100 competitors took part in a day-long celebration of the South West's most famous dish. The offerings ranged from traditional pasties made in the heart of Cornwall, to novel recipes from other parts of Britain and across the world.

Many of last year's bakers are due back to show off their wares and defend their titles, including Billy Deakin, winner of the Cornish Pasty Amateur category and the Bridgeport Pasty Company, whose third prize Professional Open Savoury pasty came all the way from Chicago, Illinois, USA.

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A special guest at the championships will be St Austell-born Mike Amery, who is planning on flying all the way from his home in New Hope, Pennsylvania, USA to enter the competition for a second time.

This year there will be new categories, giving companies, professionals, amateurs and even junior bakers the chance to battle it out for the best recipe.

It costs £10 to enter each category of the competition. This gives the competitor plus one other person free entry to Eden on Saturday, March 2.

The event will include a full day of music, demonstrations, storytelling and tastings, along with a real ale bar with special guest ales and a grand Oggy Oscars party in the evening.

Tony Trenerry, senior sous chef at the Eden Project, who baked a special Cornwall-shaped pasty to mark this year's show, said: "The calibre and creativity of last year's entries was superb and we can't wait to see what people have got in store for this year.

"It's a chance to show off traditional family recipes and brave flavour combinations, and have lots of fun along the way."

With new junior and company classes added this year, entry numbers for the gala event are limited, so early registration is recommended. Competitors can register for the competition at www.eden project.com/world-pasty-championships where full entry details can be found, or by phoning the Eden Project box office on 01726 811972.