Customer’s recipe takes pride of place on O’Neill’s Winter Menu

Earlier this year O’Neill’s Irish pubs across the UK launched its nationwide search for the ultimate Irish Stew for its Winter 2012 menu - and it’s finally been found.

The O’Neill’s Winter menu, which is available now, includes the brand new ‘Traditional Irish Stew topped with Thyme Cobblers’, courtesy of O’Neill’s guest Roz Tabberer.

Roz, from Cornwall, entered the Create Your Own Irish Stew competition through the O’Neill’s Facebook page, which was asking customers to release their inner Rankin, Corrigan or Allen and submit either a recipe passed down from generation to generation or an original Irish-inspired creation.

Entering her own creation, Roz’s Traditional Irish Stew with Thyme Cobblers dish was selected as the winning dish following an intense judging session, which included representatives from Ballymaloe, members of O’Neill’s’ key food development and management teams, and pub and kitchen managers.

Roz, who has won an all-expenses paid trip to Ballymaloe House in Cork, said: “I love cooking so I really enjoyed the Create Your Own challenge and tinkering with the ingredients. I make no apologies when I say my recipe is basic; I didn’t want to mess about with what the Irish have been doing well for centuries, but I did develop it a little by adding cobblers to the top as I wanted it to be unctuous to create a thicker consistency.”

Roz’s recipe contains traditional Irish Stew ingredients such as shoulder of lamb, onions, carrots, potatoes and is on the new O’Neill’s Winter menu, available now. She continued: “I can’t wait to see my recipe on the menu and am really looking forward to going into O’Neill’s to try it again. It’s been a great experience putting my recipe together and I really hope people across the UK enjoy my stew.”

Sarah Taylor, marketing manager at O’Neill’s said: “We’re constantly looking at ways to develop our menu, and giving our guests the opportunity to get involved to create the best Irish Stew has been a brilliant experience.

“Roz’s recipe is a truly great-tasting dish and packed full of the quality ingredients that guests have come to expect from O’Neill’s. We can’t wait to see what our guests have to say!”

The hunt for the ultimate Irish stew began in January this year, with recipes submitted to the O’Neill’s Facebook page by hopeful chefs looking to make their mark.

Roz Tabberer’s Traditional Irish Stew topped with Thyme Cobblers joins other firm O’Neill’s favourites such as Steak & Guinness Pie and Sausages & Colcannon as well as a host of new menu items for the season including Venison Sausages and Lamb Shoulder, a range of sharing platters and tempting desserts such as Sticky Dicky Porter Cake.

For further information on O’Neill’s, visit oneills.co.uk.

Irish Stew with Thyme Cobblers
Serves 4

For the Stew
500g shoulder of lamb, cut into 6-7cm pieces
Seasoned flour for dusting
2 medium onions, sliced
3 medium carrots, cut into 2cm chunks
4 medium King Edward potatoes, peeled and
cut into 3-4cm chunks
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, chopped
Rapeseed oil for frying

For the stock
Lamb bones, onion (quartered) carrot,
celery stick, bay leaf

For the Thyme Cobblers
350g self-raising flour
200g chilled butter, cubed
4 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme leaves
Juice of one lemon
Salt & pepper
Beaten egg for glazing