Spam Cook of the Year Final

Yesterday was the final of the Spam cook of the year competition. Ashley being the South East regional finalist with his Hawaiian Spam kebab recipe, was invited along with the five other regional finalists, to the grand finale in London. The venue for this event was Steph's restaurant in Dean Street. Although Ashley didn't win the main prize, a trip to Minnesota home of Spam, we did have a thoroughly enjoyable day. Everyone that took part couldn't have been nicer Lucie, Sue and Michelle from Golley Slater, the PR company who organised the event, were very inclusive. The celebrity judges, Cheryl Baker (Bucks Fizz) and John Conteh (former world light-heavyweight boxing champion) were very friendly and approachable so to were the other finalists. Steph the owner of the restaurant  had a warm personality and made everyone feel welcome. The restaurant's chef cooked the six Spam dishes and everyone tried them, we were Spammed out by the final dish! The judges deliberated and the winner was announced, it was Mr Stuart Higgs of Chester with his dish Peanut Butter and Chilli Baked Spam and we had to agree it was very nice. As a runner up Ashley is now eagerly awaiting his Spam hamper to be delivered!

The night before the competition we stayed in a hotel paid for by Spam and it wasn't any fault of the PR company but the Hallam Hotel we stayed at was awful. It's my bug bear, but why are British hotels such a lottery? The Hallam was supposedly 3 star but it was dirty, the breakfast was the worst I have ever had. The continental breakfast consisted of 3 slices of white toast and a bowl of museli the coffee was instant, no croissants!  It was a rip-off at £150 a night, the hotel had no pride or attention to detail and the view from the hotel was the construction site of the new BBC building to add to its negatives. Hotels abroad do it so much better.