As you are all no doubt aware, this Wednesday will witness the World Cloutie Dumpling Championship which takes place in Fort William.
The culmination of Lochaber’s ten week long programme of Homecoming celebrations, the competition is something of a freestyle event with the rules taking a relaxed view on what constitutes a cloutie dumpling. Because there are so many cloutie recipes around, the judges have left it up to competitors to decide exactly which ingredients to use. The only rules are that the dumpling must be wrapped in a clout or linen cloth before cooking and it must be no bigger than a large dinner plate – and no smaller than a side plate. The only other instruction is that the submitted dumpling should be left whole – and not cut up into slices.
Judging will take place at the Training Kitchen of Lochaber College, Fort William with Lochaber Provost, Allan Henderson, Hector MacLean of Lochaber Burns Club and Brian Gunn, Lochaber College Training chef, making up the tasting panel.
If you fancy your chances then entry forms and guidance notes are available by emailing morag.maclean2@highland.gov.uk or phoning 01397 874204 .
May the best cloutie win.