THE showbiz world may be glued to the Oscars ceremony this Sunday at Hollywood’s famous Dolby Theatre, but in Reading all eyes will be on the town’s equally renowned pub, The Retreat in St John’s Street.
That’s where the annual Pickled Onion Contest takes place, with the winner walking away with a prize arguably more coveted than a certain gold statue.
Fans of swollen edible vegetable bulbs fondly remember when Reading’s own Kate Winslet won the Oscar for Best Actress in the 2009 film, The Reader.
As the delighted thespian clutched her Oscar, she informed the world’s media that her mum, Sally, had just won The Retreat’s pickled onion competition.
Since that auspicious day, the pub has held the event at the same time as the Oscars ceremony as a tribute to one of Reading’s most famous daughters – and the mother of all tunicated vegetable champions.
Manager of The Retreat, Di Whitaker, said: “Sally has actually won the competition several more times so you could say she really knows her onions.
“Kate’s younger sister, Beth, came third that same year so obviously the talent for making great onions runs in the family.”
This year’s entries have been flooding in although there is still time for onion lovers to show what they have to offer. The rules are simple – competitors must make their own pickled onions from raw onions or shallots and add their own ingredients.
The judges will base their decision on three criteria, colour, crunch and taste.
The competition is free to enter and all onions should be brought to the pub by 3pm in a sealed container with no name on it.
Spectators are advised to come early for the best seats from where they can watch the winner raise the famed Pickled Onion trophy and make their acceptance speech.
After the judges have deliberated over their difficult task, there will be plenty of opportunity for the audience to sample all the entries while the runners dream that next year will be the year when their allium cepa lifts the coveted prize.
