CHARLOTTE’S PLACE restaurant in Ealing beat off stiff London competition to win the first ever #PGIHeroes competition.

It celebrates two of Britain’s outstanding foods, Fenland Celery and Powters Newmarket Sausages.

Both products have designated PGI status (Protected Geographic Indication), putting them in a select club that includes Champagne and Parmesan cheese.

Throughout November, restaurants in London used Fenland Celery and Powters Newmarket Sausages, to create a new dish that recognised the special British products.

Ben Achurch, head chef at Charlotte’s Place in St Matthew’s Road W5, impressed the judges with his dish of a Caramelised Fenland Celery Heart and Powters Newmarket Sausage, with Remoulade and Apple Mustard.

The dish was so popular that the Charlotte’s team had to double their order of ingredients to keep up with demand.

London’s winning dish was chosen by food writers Karen Burns-Booth (www.lavenderandlovage.com) and Dominic Franks (www.belleaukitchen.com).

They said: “What made Ben’s dish stand out was its surprise factor. It was a delight to find an inner layer of black pudding within the sausage.

“It perfectly complimented the fantastic Powters taste. Having grown up eating Fenland Celery, we were astonished at the innovative way Ben cooked and presented it – and the taste was even better!”

Ben said: “These ingredients are produced in the same region so it’s no wonder they worked well together.”