Christmas Pie a winner in British Turkey Awards' new category

School cook Anna Spooner's recipe has proved so successful with pupils at Lethbridge Primary School in Swindon where she works that it has become a firm favourite on the lunch time menu for students. And the festively named pie, which contains Christmas staples such as turkey breast, sage and onion stuffing and sausage meat, isn't only available at the school over the seasonal period but appears on the menu all year round. This is the first time in the awards' 13 year history that the category of Best School Meal has been featured. The new award was introduced to reflect how turkey catering cuts are being used in the cost sector. A ready-to-roast British turkey breast joint was named the best catering product for the produce of The UK Foodhall Ltd. Aimed at the local education authority, restaurants and pubs, this cook-from-frozen boneless joint impressed judges because of its convenience factor and moist tender meat. Runner up products included Bernard Matthews Foodservice slow cooked turkey shank in a honey & bourbon sauce, which comes individually portioned in a sous vide bag. It received praise for being easy to cook and serve to its target pubs market. And Brakes British stuffed turkey portions were described as tasty and ideal for catering. Other winners included: Lincs Turkeys Fresh Lincolnshire Turkey for Best Branded Product and KellyBronze turkeys which were named Best Christmas Traditional Product. Matthew Pullen, chairman, British Turkey Federation Marketing Committee said: "We must congratulate the foodservice companies and turkey producers for the continual excellence in the catering category and industry as a whole. The quality and sheer range of products available should be recognised." The event, which took place at London's Claridge's raised more than £12,000 for the children's medical charity Sparks.