11:58am Monday 30th June 2008
By News Release
Celebrity chefs the Hairy Bikers have declared their support for the campaign to protect the Traditional Cumberland Sausage.
Dave Myers and Si King gave the campaign their backing as the county prepares to celebrate the first Traditional Cumberland Sausage Day on Saturday 5th July.
The chefs took a break from filming to sign a petition supporting the campaign, which is being organised by Made in Cumbria and the Cumberland Sausage Association.
Dave Myers said: “Traditional Cumberland Sausage has been part of my life since I was a kid. We’ve got access to really high end, good food up here, to me symbolised by the Cumberland Sausage. “If you go down south every body’s got it on the menu but it’s not Cumberland Sausage, it’s a washed out affair. It’s a great sausage and it deserves to be protected. We don’t want the fake ones. It’s a special brand, so let’s keep it right.”
Cumbrian farmer Peter Gott has been taking the petition around the country on behalf of the campaign and has already collected a number of other signatures, including chef Anthony Worrall Thompson and food writers Tom Parker Bowles and Matthew Fort.
Dave Myers was also interviewed for a short film on the Traditional Cumberland Sausage Campaign which can be seen at www.traditionalcumberlandsausage.com and on a new Facebook page on the campaign.
John Anderson from Made in Cumbria says: “We’re delighted to have the support of the Hairy Bikers for the Traditional Cumberland Sausage Campaign. Both Dave and Si are really passionate about the importance of good local food and that is what our campaign is all about.”
Traditional Cumberland Sausage Day is being held as part of the campaign to give the sausage the same protection as products like Champagne, Parma Ham and Greek Feta cheese. A number of businesses around the county are organising special events including Traditional Cumberland Sausage barbeques and menus featuring the sausage.
A Traditional Cumberland Sausage cook-off is also being held in carlisle.gov.uk" target="_blank">Carlisle city centre the day before (Friday 4th July) at 12.30pm. Twelve sausage makers from across the county have reached the final.
The sausages will be cooked by chefs Michael Weston Cole, from the Waterhead Hotel in Ambleside, and John Crouch. They will then be judged on their taste by Cumbria County Councillor, Tony Markley, who is the Chairman of the Steering Group for Made in Cumbria, and the new Major of carlisle.gov.uk" target= "_blank">Carlisle, Jacqueline Geddes.
The competition is being sponsored by English Lakes Hotels, who will be providing the winner with dinner, bed and breakfast in one of their luxury hotels. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd winners will also receive a Traditional Cumberland Sausage trophy.
For information on businesses holding events and some of the activities across Cumbria to celebrate the Traditional Cumberland Sausage Day visit www.traditionalcumberlandsausage.co.uk.
For information on Made in Cumbria visit www.madeincumbria.co.uk.
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