THE search to find a sausage for Sunderland has taken a turn for the “wurst” with six banging ideas set to be judged.
As part of Sunderland’s Food and Drink Festival – which runs from June 21 – 23 – organisers Sunderland BID and Sunderland City Council have teamed up with award-winning butchers Ibbitson’s to find a new flavour of banger.
And now fans of the favourite food have submitted their own suggestions for the perfect sausage, with the shortlisted favourites facing the public taste test at 10am on 23 June at Keel Square.
Scores of recipes were submitted for the event, with suggestions involving a wide variety of ingredients such as lime, chilli and cheese.
Unsurprisingly, there were many entrants who paid homage to Sunderland’s culinary heritage, with one recipe including Vaux Samson beer and others offering variations on the traditional panackelty.
Among the judging panel was Joanne Ibbitson, the third generation of the family to work in the business, whose sausages have won a number of Great Taste awards for mouth-watering combinations such as Moroccan lamb and apricots.
“People have been really inventive and come up with some fantastic suggestions,” said Joanne.
“We hope people will turn up and vote because they’re in for a huge treat.”
The six shortlisted recipes will now be put into development by Shaun Muldown, Ibbitson’s master butcher and sausage maker and will be available to try on the final day of the festival.
The most popular will be announced as the winner – and will then go into production and be sold from the Ibbitson’s stall at Jacky Whites Market.
Sharon Appleby, Head of Business Operations at Sunderland BID, said people had been really imaginative.
“We had some really great ideas and some brilliant combinations,” she said
“Now it’s up to visitors to the food festival to come along and pick their favourite.”
A Sausage for Sunderland is one of a whole host of exciting events taking place throughout the festival, including demonstrations by celebrity chef Jean Christophe Novelli, former Masterchef finalist and tv favourite Dean Edwards and Cbeebies presenter, Katy Ashworth.
Other events over the weekend include an international food market, a gin school, cocktail masterclasses and a range of demonstrations by local chefs.
The full programme for the festival is available at https://www.seeitdoitsunderland.co.uk/sundfoodfest