My Experience at the Devon Life Semi-Finals Cookery Competition at Ashburton Cookery School

I was lucky enough to be selected to take part in the semi finals of the Devon Life Home Cook of the Year 2014 cookery competition last weekend at Ashburton Cookery School.  They had good facilities and excellent helpers.

I had an hour to make one course - I chose to make a dessert and made the Devon Apple Cake, one of my staples, served with Devon clotted cream and handpicked blackberries.

I didn't go through to the next round, but I was up against some stiff competition in the form of a Goats Cheese and Asparagus Tart, Smoked Mackerel with a Poached Egg, Spinach and Sourdough and a Roast Meat + Veggie Roast.

It was an enjoyable whirlwind.  Cooking in a new, unfamiliar kitchen is tricky to say the least, despite there being nothing wrong with the Ashburton Cookery School kitchen, it wasn't my own kitchen so I had no idea where simple things were like a spoon, or a whisk.  The oven was stronger than my one at home.  Also cooking under time pressure (we had an hour) made the time whizz by and made me work very hard.

The finalists get to cook in the Ashbury Kitchen in Exeter and the overall winner will be announced on October at the Devon Life Food Awards.  The winner will receive a Kitchen Aid and other John Lewis goodies.

One of the highlights for me was having a very helpful lad to hand who did all my washing up - luxury!

My dish can just be seen at the bottom right of this photo:

I am a Devon Life Home Cook Semi-Finalist!

I have just been told that I am a Devon Life Home Cook Semi-Finalist.  Uh-oh, I watch Masterchef and can see the pressure the cooks are under.  I hope I can remain calm and collected when I have to perform.

The link to the competition is here and I might win one of these

plus £500 John Lewis vouchers.

Now I'm excited.....

Devon Life is a great publication by the way.  Of course, I'm not biased!

Giveaway: A case of Radcliffe's Wines and Ashburton Fish Deli Smoked Fish

I am rather excited about my first ever giveaway on my blog.  It's quite an impressive one too.

One lucky winner will receive: 
a mixed case of white and rosé wines from Radcliffe's Wines (worth £94)
and
a selection of Devon and Cornish smoked fish from Ashburton Fish Deli (worth approximately £20)
The prize will be delivered to the door of a mainland UK address.


Radcliffe's Wines are an online wine merchant specialising in twelve Old World wines that perfectly complement fine food.  They have specifically chosen a selection of wines that will be very palate-pleasing when quaffed with the smoked fish. Radcliffe’s mission is to share how important it is to experiment with
pairing food and wine and to appreciate that so many wines are simply better when tasted with fabulous dishes.

Ashburton Fish Deli are much more than an award-winning fish and seafood supplier.  They pride themselves on their gourmet selection of fine home-cooked seafood products such as their bouillabaisse and crabcakes that are made on the premises.  The shop is bulging with all sorts of fishy products of which at least 70% is local, often from the South Devon waters. They are based not far from me in South Devon in the beautiful old market town of Ashburton on the edge of Dartmoor.

To win this amazing prize:

1. Essential: Click on the Rafflecopter widget below which will keep a record of your entries and perform the draw.  You can do one or all of these: comment on this blog by telling me what SW food or drink you love, mention this giveaway on Twitter, follow @grazingkate or @radcliffeswines on Twitter, 'Like' Radcliffe's Wines on Facebook.  
3. Each blog comment, tweet or 'like' on Facebook counts as one entry so you can enter multiple times 
3. Closing Date  7am 30 April 2012 
4. Competition open to all mainland UK residents aged 18 or over
5. Winner will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends.