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Pubs, restaurants, cafes and food producers battled it out in the annual Watercress Festival food awards, serving up a mouth-watering range of watercress dishes.
Watercress pesto, watercress scones, watercress quiche, countless variations of watercress soup and even a watercress trifle and watercress ice cream were among the entries from stall holders at the festival in Alresford, Hampshire on Sunday 13 May.
Top prize for Best Overall Watercress Product went to Casson’s English Herbs for their Watercress Sauce. Founded by Charlotte Casson and based in Wolverton the company produces fresh herbs, herb seasonings, herb oils, herb jellies and chutneys.
Richard Pollen’s Pollen Organics, based in Bramshott Chase, Hampshire won an award for the second year in a row. Their Watercress Houmous scooped the Most Innovative Watercress Product award and proved so popular with festival goers it sold out after a couple of hours!
The Best Traditional Watercress Product award was won by Cresson Creative with their new recipe for Watercress and Pear Soup with a Hint of Ginger. The catering company, based in Alresford, is run by Jennifer Laing.
Celebrity chef Antony Worrall Thompson judged the entries and presented the awards on stage at the festival along with Charles Barter of The Watercress Alliance.
The award for best menu went to The Thomas Lord Pub in West Meon, Petersfield, run by David Taylor and Richard Thomas, who also won the best individual dish for their impressive Watercress Roulade with Hansus goats cheese and Isle of Wight garlic.
Also winning two awards was the Shapla Indian restaurant who won best International Menu and most innovative dish with their watercress Reshmi Chicken Tikka.
The Best Snack award was won by The Courtyard Tea Rooms with their Watercress Walnut and Goats Cheese Muffin. The Best International Dish went to the Alresford Indian & Bangladeshi restaurant for their Watercress Bhaji.
Eateries
Category |
Establishment |
Dish |
|---|---|---|
Best Menu |
The Thomas Lord Pub |
N/A |
Best Individual Dish |
The Thomas Lord Pub |
Watercress Roulade with Hansus Goats Cheese and Isle of Wight Garlic |
Best Snack |
The Courtyard Tea Rooms |
Watercress Walnut and Goats Cheese Muffin |
Best International Menu |
Shapla Indian Restaurant |
N/A |
Best International Dish |
Alresford Indian & Bangladeshi |
Watercress Bhaji |
Most Innovative Dish |
Shapla Indian Restaurant |
Reshmi Chicken Tikka |
Stall Holders
Category |
Establishment |
Dish |
|---|---|---|
Best Overall Watercress Product Overall |
Casson English Herbs |
Watercress sauce |
Most Innovative Watercress Product |
Pollen Organics |
Watercress houmous |
Best Traditional Watercress Product |
Cresson Creative |
Watercress and pear soup with a hint of ginger |