Mat Follas from Bramble Cafe in Sherbourne wins the Great Sausage Roll Off 2023
Mat Follas from Bramble Cafe in Sherborne, Dorset, was crowned the winner of this year's Great Sausage Roll Off competition last night.
It was the first time the event, held at the Red Lion in Barnes in aid of Hospitality Action, had taken place post-pandemic.
The winning roll was themed on a Sunday Roast and was made from pork sausage meat from Parsons Butchers in Sherborne, slow-cooked onions, bacon and a secret spice mix, topped with a pork crackling crumb and served with gravy for dipping.
Follas, who won MasterChef in 2009, served his sausage roll with a bottle of his Blackberry liqueur to finish.
Second place went to Dav Browing of the Ocean View at the Dome, Plymouth, while third place went to Sue Mcgrath of the Vine in Buckden, Cambridgeshire.
Follas, who has entered the competition twice before, said: "It was a case of third time lucky for me – and I honestly couldn't be happier. I stuck to the basics – a really great sausage, with superb crackling and some truly delicious gravy. I knew it was good – and when you know the judges feel the same, it's just the greatest feeling.
"The sausage roll is definitely going straight on the menu at Bramble and the Roll Off trophy will be proudly joining my dusty MasterChef trophy on display in the restaurant."
The event was judged by a panel including chef and Sunday Brunch presenter Simon Rimmer; LBC host James O'Brien; UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls; Midsummer House chef Daniel Clifford; and Hicce chef Pip Lacey. Award-winning beer and food writer, Melissa Cole, compered proceedings.
Sixteen chefs from across the country entered the event, which has been running since 2013 and is open to chefs of all backgrounds.
All contestants must cook 12 sausage rolls, with two used for judging while the others are sold in aid of Hospitality Action. An auction was also held on the night which raised £1,500 for the charity.
Claire Morgan and Angus McKean, general manager of the Red Lion, which is a Fuller's pub, said they were delighted with this year's event.
McKean said: "It is just so good to be back. The atmosphere was electric, the sausage rolls were delicious, and this is the best line-up of entrants and judges we have ever had. It was a great night."
Morgan added: "The Great Sausage Roll Off is really Angus's baby. We've been together for 24 years – but to be honest, he would only notice me and the kids in the run up to the Roll Off if we were wrapped in pastry and baked in the oven!
"But I have to say, it is a magical night in The Red Lion and living proof of the amazing things you can achieve – even if you are just a wonderful community pub in south-west London."
