Egloskerry Pasty Competition

Pasty-making competition at the Egloskerry St Petroc and St Keri Church fête and all the competitors are men. The event is organised by Rev Patrick Howlett and the winner is Clifford Trelown. The Cornish Pasty Association appeared in the 13th century and by the 18th century the pasty became a staple of the working man's diet. There are 50 independent pasty makers in Cornwall and with over 6 million Cornish around the world the delicacy has been exported to places like Mexico.

The crimp was originally not to be eaten as dirty hands from tin or copper mining meant the crimp edge served as a handle and was thrown away. The pasty has benefitted from the European Union’s Protected Geographical Indication or PGI so the origin protection went west of the Tamar River to Cornwall but Devon holds the oldest written recipe. Going global could mean countries like the USA exporting its own brand pasties to the UK. A pasty must contain between 12.5 and 25 per cent meat, potato, swede - Swedish turnip, onion and seasoning, notably pepper in a short, rough or rough puff outer pastry. This Institute of Certificated Cornish Pasty Makers did make the most excellent pasty, well almost just like mother’s!