AL MURRAY, better known as comedian, the Pub Landlord, was at the Mark Addy in Salford this week testing the quality of our regional sausages.
“The key ingredient is nutmeg,” he said. “We do a lot of experimenting at our butchers in Glossop, and the inspiration for this particular sausage comes from pre-war times, when the first exports of nutmeg came into Salford Docks.”
He was here as part of the Stand Up For British Bangers and Iconic Sausages competition, organised by the British Sausage Appreciation Society as part of British Sausage Week.
The winning sausage came from Glossop butcher, J W Mettrick & Son Ltd, beating around 230 shortlisted entrants and seven other regional finalists to receive the British Banger Award.
The title of the superb sizzler is The Manchester Sausage. John Mettrick, described, what sets his winning sausage apart.
“The key ingredient is nutmeg,” he said. “We do a lot of experimenting at our butchers in Glossop, and the inspiration for this particular sausage comes from pre-war times, when the first exports of nutmeg came into Salford Docks.”
A butcher and sausage trophy
Head Judge Al Murray also offered some thoughts on the humble British sausage, which went some way to justifying his inclusion in the process aside from being a token celebrity:
“I think sausages are the ultimate comfort food, and like many things that bring comfort, they’re often overlooked or taken for granted.”
“As for personal favourites, I have a great local butcher’s in Hammersmith in West London. My daughter loves the chicken and apricot sausage. But for me, it has to be the Cumberland, with a bit of black pepper, mustard and a coating of beer.”
The Manchester Sausage took the Stand Up for British Bangers category (an exceptional pork sausage in terms of taste, quality, flavour, provenance or uniqueness) and was the overall winner.
The winner of the Iconic Sausage category was the Olympic Breakfast Pork Sausage (a pork sausage that represents a notable British figure or event, past or present) from Buxton butcher, Stanedge Grange Butchery. The nearest shortlisted entrant to the city centre was Albert Matthews butcher’s Gloucester Old Spot Rhubarb and Winter Spice Sausage.
Scary award
