Raymond Blanc attended the Royal Bath and West Show near Shepton Mallet, Somerset on 31 May. He was trying to find the best cider from a total of 500 entrants, in what is said to be the biggest cider competition in the world.

Raymond said it was "marvellous" to see Somerset "reconnecting and reinventing" the craft of cider making. He was principal judge at this year's cider show and was tasked with the interesting job of choosing a winner from a record 497 cider entries. Eventually, the judges chose a sparkling cider by Totnes makers Ashridge as the overall winner, although Somerset cidermaker Julian Temperley's Burrow Hill cider topped the 150-strong farmhouse class.

"I have tasted some fabulous ciders - as good as I have tasted both sides of the Channel," Raymond said.

/www.ashridgecider.com

The DVD of Raymond Blanc's hugely successful five part series - The Very Hungry Frenchman - broadcast on BBC2 earlier this year, is now on sale.

To purchase your copy from Amazon, please click on the link below:

www.amazon.co.uk/The-Very-Hungry-Frenchman-DVD

If you would like a signed copy of the DVD, this can be ordered via Le Manoir's website. Please click on the link below and request a signed copy in the 'special instructions' box at checkout:

www.manoir.com/gift_shop

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