Cleavers

Another big entry with this cricket ball-sized Scotch egg from Cleavers butchers in Wandsworth Town. When cut down the centre the two halves are almost as big as some single Scotch eggs I’ve tried. There is a distinct separation between the breadcrumbs and the meat (Cumberland sausage), and the egg rattles in its casing. The well-seasoned, thick rim of sausage meat falls from the breadcrumbs and onto the plate. It is not bound to the panko wrapping and the assembly is broken.

The egg is free range and creamy. The yolk has a darker colouring than I’ve seen before, almost apricot. It’s good; no satisfying crunch or warm, runny yolk, however the Cumberland sausage is rich and for the price it’s one hell of a snack.

Price: £1.95

Overall: 3/5

Scotch Egg Challenge Winner Announced

Following huge demand on Twitter, on the 20^th September a number of restaurateurs, publicans, foodies, journalists and bloggers from London and beyond gathered at The Ship in Wandsworth with only one thing on their mind: the #ScotchEggChallenge.

I’ve been working with Osh and the team at The Ship for months to organize this event and we finally pulled it off, with coverage help from The Guardian, The Evening Standard, Time Out and the Chris Evans Breakfast Show. There were 36 entries and Scotch eggs from small marble-sized to some the size of a heavyweight boxer’s fist. They were gold coloured, caramel, aurulent, chestnut, burnt sienna, black, ochre, toast and even pink.

A panel of five judges included 2009 Masterchef winner Mat Follas of Wild Garlic restaurant in Dorset, leading food bloggers Chris Pople and MiMi Aye, owner and chef of CakeBoy Eric Lanlard and myself. Eggs were rated on their Appearance, Smell, Texture and Taste with full marks being a score out of 20.

After 4 hours, 36 Scotch eggs (and 6 pints for me), a winner emerged, as well as a runner-up, an award for ‘Best Non-Retail Scotch egg’ and the ‘Forever Eggsploring Award for Gourmet Version’. Here are the winners:

Best Overall Scotch egg: The Devonshire Arms (@devonshirepubW4)

Best Non-Retail Scotch egg: The Friday Food Club (@FridayFoodClub)

Forever Eggsploring Award: The Hinds Head (@HindsHeadBray)

Related articles

• Down the cakehole: Scotch eggs (forevereggsploring.com)
• Young’s pub holds Scotch egg challenge (forevereggsploring.com)
• A scotch eggstravaganza (The Guardian) (forevereggsploring.com)