We are getting near that exciting time of the year when the Norfolk Food Festival kicks off. You can read more about the festival on their website. But the sausages are always one of the main attractions. The public try the sausages and vote for their winner. This year the tasting is taking place on the 25th September between 9.30am and 3pm. So far there are 7 entrants who I know all produce amazing sausages so it’s going to be a tough decision.
Click on the entrant’s name to be taken to their website (if they have one).
Walsingham Farms Shop
These guys offer truly local food shopping, through their partnerships with farmers and food producers, bringing the best local food direct from producers to customers at our shop and restaurant.
Their pork is from Tim Allen of Morley Farm, South Creake.
Their website says they only stock their own Norfolk Ham made from Morley Farm pork legs and their own award winning sausages.
Their sausages in previous years have been really good so they are definitely one to watch!
Frank Spurgeon Ltd
Last year (2009) Tony Spurgeon told me that as a result of winning in 2008 sales were up about 300kg a week and this extra custom is through the shops of which there are growing number. Very pleasing news that more and more people are giving their local butcher a try. Their 2009 competition sausage was wholesome and morish with a beautiful traditional flavour.
I’m sure this year Tony will be trying harder then ever to retain his title and I look forwarding to trying out his competition sausage.
Goodies Farm Shop
Goodies have a wonderful range of sausages on offer and indeed an excellent range of food generally at their farmshop off the A140 between Norwich and Diss. They were featured in my list of my top twenty sausages because they are excellent and even my three-year-old son, the Sausage Prince is a big fan!
They also run a variety of events during the year. Click the picture on the left to see my short youtube video of their Christmas Fayre and sausage and beer tasting last year.
Archers of Norwich
Archers have an excellent reputation for their sausages and rightly so.
They also have a specialist sausage making business called Sausages Direct. All of their sausages are made with the finest fresh free range pork and their own secret blends of herbs and spices, some of these recipies have been handed down from generations of butchers.
As previous Battle of the Bangers winners they will be looking to claim back their title.
Tony Perkins
Tony Perkins always make a big effort for British Sausage Week and as a new entrant to the competition for 2010 I think they will make a big impact. His customers speak very highly of his sausages (although I’ve not tried them myself).
Their pork is supplied from the award-winning Metfield Pig Herd, which is reared in Norfolk by the Mortimers of Fir Tree Farm and is said to taste excellent.
I look forward to trying it out for myself in a few weeks time.
Bradwell Butchery
Bradwell Butchery is one of the nicest butchers shops run by one of the nicest butchers you will find anywhere. Not only that but they sell some brilliant and tasty sausages! They are returning to the Battle of the Bangers after taking last year off focusing on the expansion of their shop to include a deli.
Their customers are truly spoilt for choice and I’m sure they will be in with a chance of winning this year’s title.
Swannington Farm to Fork
Swannington Farm to Fork are another new entrant this year and having just visited their website I can’t wait to pay them a visit myself.
They have six hundred outdoor Landrace cross Duroc sows. The sows live in arks on grass covered light land. Piglets are grown on in outdoor, straw based kennels with adlib food, water and plenty of fresh air. They are fed on a cereal based diet with no growth promoters or antibiotics.
Rob was a Runner Up for the Farmer’s Weekly Pig Farmer of the Year Award in October 2009.
It’s always so exciting to try out sausages from, and meet, new producers to the competition. This Farm to Fork enterprise sounds excellent and I can’t wait to meet Rob and try their sausages.
Are you going to the Norfolk Battle of the Bangers? Did you go last year? Get in touch by leaving a comment below. See you there!