There ‘aint nothin’ like it in the world. The Cornish pasty is an institution. And it’s celebrated on Saturday 5 March – St Piran’s Day, no less – in the most awesome of ways: a massive cook-off to discover who makes the best oggy in the world. Yup, the World Pasty Championships at Cornwall’s biggest attraction – the Eden Project – are set to be the meatiest yet.
This year marks the big 10th anniversary of the annual championships and it also follows a year with no event due to COVID-19, so we’re all doubly looking forward to this one. Both Eden and the Cornish Pasty Association are behind the extravaganza that includes both indoor and outdoor stages and an array of musical talents on show to accompany all the baking.
And on that note, entries to take part are open until 27 February. Professionals and amateurs, young and old – even companies – can enter the ‘Cornish Pasty’ or ‘Open Savoury’ (which, no lie, have included insect pasties and roadkill pasties in years gone by) categories. See the official website for entry details.
For the casual oggy lover among us, though, we’ll be going to watch in those two massive biomes near St Austell. We can enjoy a raft of entertainment, all that music (a taster for the forthcoming Eden Sessions perhaps?), all that baking, a ‘Pasty Hall of Fame’ and even the return of the ‘World’s Fastest Crimper’ contest, featuring some of the best crimpers in the business. It’s a unique event in a unique setting and, by the end of the day, the pasty champions of the world will be crowned in the county that lives and breathes this iconic foodstuff. We’ll see you there. Bring an empty stomach…