Show competition too hot for TV chef (From Darlington and Stockton Times)
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Show competition too hot for TV chef
8:00am Thursday 6th September 2012 in News
By Emily Flanagan, Reporter
The chefs' entries
TWO celebrity chefs put their baking skills to the test yesterday, competing against Yorkshire Dales residents at a country show.
The 107th Muker Show took place in upper Swaledale , with yesterday’s sunny, dry weather drawing in a goodsized crowd, much to the delight of organisers.
In the produce classes, two high profile chefs had entered some of their own baking, unbeknown to judges.
Aldo Zilli and Silvena Rowe were filming for a television programme and put forward some of their own baking in the section for “items of food from a Dales kitchen”.
Ms Rowe won first place with a fruit cake topped with golf leaf marzipan fruit and a jar of rhubarb and vanilla jam, but Mr Zilli could only manage third with his Yorkshire Rascals, fruit buns and Yorkshire curd tart.
He was beaten by Gill Gurton, from Muker, who scooped second with her lemon curd and home made bread.
Show secretary Kathy Scott said: “The chefs entered anonymously so the judges really didn’t know. They did their preparation yesterday and came early in the morning to leave their entries.”
The show also attracted a television crew filming for the popular Dales television series on ITV.
Other attractions included sheep dog trials, a display of country dancing by children from Reeth and Gunnerside Primary School and music by Muker Silver Band.
The classes with the most entries were those for Swaledale sheep, which were the only livestock exhibited at the show, with the Dale being the home of the breed.
People travelled from far and wide to exhibit their Swaledales and the judging process took all day. This year, it was won by Alan Coates and his son Steven, who live on a hill farm near Keld.
Alan Coates said: “This is the main show for Swaledales so it’s nice to win here. This is the only show we’ve done because it takes a lot of time to get them ready.”
The show’s fell race was won by 23-year-old builder Joe Forrest from Coverdale.
