A PUB in Reading has named the winner of its Pickled Onion Contest, which sees participants whipping up their own batches of the classic pub snack for judging.
The Retreat, St Johns Street, held the contest on Sunday, March 12, with contestants bringing their own onions or shallots and creating unique recipes, with the best taste, texture, and colour taking home a grand trophy.
One of the venue’s directors, Diane Whittaker, said: “It’s something we do every year, and we had such a great response.
“Our three judges went through them all an narrowed it down to the last three entries, until Liz Rebbeck was presented with the trophy.”
She explained: “Liz is one of our regulars and has been coming here for years, known well by the community in here.
“She’s entered before but only ever come second, so everyone went bananas when she won.
“She used her own onions– she’s a fantastic gardener and grows her own vegetables, which she’s generous with and often hands out her extra at the pub.”
She said that The Retreat was now looking ahead to its events later in the year.
“We’ve got the bloody Mary competition, our Easter festival taking place over Easter weekend– there’ll be about 17 bands put on between ourselves and The Lyndhurst.”
The Retreat takes part in The Village Easter Festival on Saturday, April 8, with Rufus Ruffcut among the acts confirmed to be performing.
Full details of upcoming events at The Retreat are available via: www.theretreat.pub
