Friday is Pie day! (Except that this week, it isn`t!)

Bottle and Board
Feb 20
4 min read

Featuring a very late report on last Christmas`s, Third annual sausage roll bake-off! And some exciting news on next month`s launch of `Smoked salmon Sunday`s!`

Sunday the 21st of December 2025 saw Peterborough`s very best bakers take on the fiendishly difficult, Bottle & Board, Yuletide Sausage-roll Bake-off Competition.

This, punishing, Pork, pastry & pepper* parcel, examination, is often cited as being the most challenging cooking competition in the world. Indeed, this year`s judging panel were heard to quietly curse, "This just does not get any easier!"

Because I am wise enough to not get involved in the actual judging, (I know my place!) I am therefore, delighted to be able to report , that after two recounts, third and fourth place, quite resolutely remained tied, requiring the two entries in question to be reassessed. Eventually, having carefully, double checked the score sheets, the head judge, Gina Baines, was pleased to report that a baker had finally, and unequivocally,emerged triumphant.

*Other forms of seasoning are most acceptable.

The eerily, hushed, quiet before the storm!

Perfectly Prepared, Pork & Pepper Parcels! As I unpacked them, the aroma was mouth-watering!

All of the brave bakers are winners.

Before we get into the nitty gritty of who was the overall winner, it must be noted, that as I unpacked the entries, I did not for one moment envy the judges, in the task that lay before them. Sorting this lot out would be no mean feat.

The Winners.

Third place. After the essential recount, third place was secured by, Le enfant terrible of the bake-off, Myles. Once the winners were announced, the judges admitted to being slightly confused, if not amazed that, on this occasion, Myles had chosen to produce an actual sausage roll for consideration, rather than the somewhat bizarre avant garde, free form Jazz, offerings of previous years.

A more than worthy third place was well deserved. WELL DONE Myles!

Second Place.

The highly coveted, `Runner up` position was captured, seemingly, `straight out of nowhere! by Nina Mehmed. Unfortunately, in amongst all of the pre Christmas chaos, I did not manage to find an opportunity to sample this entry**. All that I am able to say, is that I feel more than happy, that the judges chosen for this event, really know their stuff, and I have absolute confidence in their collective ability to `judge according to the brief.`

That being the case, well done Nina!

** Please be assured, next year, as soon as the judges have ceased with their deliberations, and before the drooling scavengers descend en masse upon the bakers bountiful buffet, I will be supplied with a sample of the final three, podium worthy offerings.

First place, and the winner of Bottle & Board`s 2025 sausage-roll Bake-off.

On this particular occasion. Words, have for once, failed me.

Bottle & Board`s 2025 Bake-off winner. Colonel Kevin.

Left. Myles Cameron McSorley. Right. Nina Mehmed. And our winner Kevin. (surname withheld.)

Bottle & Board wish the heartiest of congratulations to our worthy winners, and would like to extend our thanks to all of the brave bakers who made this event not only possible, but fantastic fun, by placing their superb baking skills on public display to be judged, admired and above all, enjoyed by everyone who attends this splendid Christmas event.

Epilogue;

"But Eddie!" I hear you all cry, with varying levels of disinterest. "Why is this report so late in being posted?" Here, by way of an answer is a brief timeline of events.

Sunday 21st. Peterborough`s original sausage-roll bake-off competition.
Monday 22nd. Up at sunrise to weigh out, grate & grind two pounds of `Woodston` smoked salmon cure, then off to the fishmongers to collect three sides of Scottish Salmon. Home to carefully apply the cure, before getting to the shop extra early to sweep up all of the pastry crumbs. Bed!
Tuesday 23rd. After breakfast, load up the cold cabinet`s smoke generator with Oak wood dust. Carefully wash & dry the cured Salmon sides, light up the smoker and monitor, on and off for the next sixteen hours. Oh yeah! And open the shop.
Christmas eve! Lift the now smoked salmon out of the cold cabinet. Wrap in grease proof paper and butchers wrap, decorate with bits coloured twine, (Red & White.) and sprigs of Rosemary and deliver. And open the shop!
Christmas eve evening! Close shop for Christmas. consume festive feast of Bratwurst, German potato salad, und sauerkraut with Schlenkerla Doppelbock. In bed by 10 O`clock to await Santa.
Christmas day until twelfth night. Drift in and out of booze/food fuelled coma.
And after all of that, during the dull, dark depressing days of January, the whole thing kind of just slipped my mind!

Smoked Salmon Sunday`s.

To celebrate the beginning of British summer time, Sunday the 29th of March. Bottle & Board will begin hosting `Smoked Salmon Sunday`s.` Full and half sides of very freshly smoked salmon will be available to buy at approximately £50 whole side. £25 half.

"But Eddie!" I hear you cry, (slightly more enthusiastically this time,I note!) "That seems like a lot of money/huge investment/way too much, etc,etc. I consider this to be a perfectly reasonable position to adopt.

You may well consider, having a chat with Kevin. Winner of the 2025 Sausage-roll Bake-off, and as such a man who knows his stuff and is not to be trifled with.

Kevin purchased a whole side of Salmon last Christmas, and has pre-ordered a second side for next month. Buy him a beer, and bend his ear! Alternatively, if you remain unconvinced, a Smoked Salmon Sample plate, consisting of 100 grams of Woodston cured salmon and a few other bits, (melba toasts, FGBP, fresh lemon wedge etc,etc.) will be made available for the INTRODUCTIONARY DISCOUNTED PRICE of £4.

Free Beer Friday!

And now for the all important, Friday quiz question. The first person, deemed to have answered the following question correctly. (and in the correct place! Which is the website comments box. not the fb comments section.) will be allowed to claim a single drink up to the value of ten pounds. (not a £10 bar tab!) to be consumed at the shop or taken home.

Terms & Conditions apply. Good-Luck everyone! This week`s question appears below.