British Army Prove They Are The Sweetest Thing At International Copa Jerez 2009

You can forget bully beef and carrots as Chef and sommelier duo Vicky Leigh Smith and Shaun Collins, from the British Army Culinary Arts Team, have taken home the prize for Best Food & Sweet Sherry matching at this years' International Copa Jerez in Southern Spain. Vicky and Shaun were up against some stiff competition at this years' event, but persevered and their stunning soufflé with glazed raspberries, chilled cream and sloe gin ripple paired with and a 30 year PX went on to beat menus from the USA, Denmark and Germany. Unfortunately, the UK team lost out to Dutch duo Jarno Eggen and Cindy Borger, from Restaurant de Lindenhof, who were eventually awarded the coveted title of Best Menu. It was said to be a very close call but Vicky and Shaun only just fell short of victory after putting up a tremendous fight with a particularly daunting judging panel made up of famous names including Juli Soler, co-owner of the world's best restaurant El Bulli, as well as renowned Japanese Sommelier Kazuyoshi Kogai, who followed in the footsteps of world renowned chefs Heston Blumenthal and Angela Hartnett.

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Christmas Sherry recipes from Heston Blumenthal

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Blumenthal cracks the code on Sherry - and hits the flavour jackpot

In a world first, culinary alchemist Heston Blumenthal has put Sherry under the microscope to find it contains flavour-enhancing properties - and has unveiled a brand new, scientific, but unconventional way of food and wine pairing, with some surprising results.

Heston, in conjunction with scientist Professor Don Mottram of Reading University, has discovered a group of compounds known as diketopiperazines (DKPs) in Sherry. These are particularly associated with the dry styles of Sherry, and it is thought can actually accentuate the taste and flavour of certain 'umami-rich' foods such as meat, fish, cheese and shiitake mushrooms (umami is the fifth tasting sense beyond sweet, sour, bitter, and salty). Heston enthuses: "Here we have scientific evidence to suggest what foodies across the globe have always known: that Sherry is a perfect wine to accompany food. And quite simply, Sherry gives these kinds of foods an extra dimension of pleasure."

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Heston Blumenthal's Gruyère Fondue with Fino Sherry and Clove.

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To be enjoyed with chilled Fino Sherry Serves 4 750g Fino Sherry 9 cloves Garlic, crushed 8 black peppercorns 6 sprigs thyme 16g sodium citrate (available from chemists) 850g Gruyère cheese, grated 1 tsp ground clove

Combine the sherry, garlic, peppercorns, and thyme in a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Remove from the heat and allow to infuse for 10 minutes and strain. Pour the infused sherry into a pan, begin to heat and whisk in the sodium citrate. Transfer this mixture to the bowl of the fondue and heat over the flame. Slowly stir in the Gruyère until it is all incorporated and evenly fluid. Sprinkle the top with the clove and stir in to incorporate. Serve with cubes of country bread.

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Four new Sherry recipes from Skye Gyngell & Jason Atherton

Arguably the most fashionable woman in food at the moment Skye Gyngell is on a mission to make Sherry the wine of choice this year. Once private chef to Madonna and now the brains behind west London's chicest, greenest eaterie, the Petersham Nurseries Cafe, Skye has now created a one-off menu en homage to Sherry, Spain's national wine.

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Jason Atherton was the first British chef to complete a stage at Spain's famous El Bulli restaurant, working for the renowned chef, Ferrá Adrià. He is now head chef at maze, a Michelin-star-winning restaurant in the Gordon Ramsay Group

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Three New Sherry Coolers from Pintxo People

With Nadal the new King of Wimbledon and the Spanish football team victorious at Euro 08, Spain is more red hot than ever this year. Spain's music festivals too - such as Sonar in Barcelona and Benicassim are eclipsing Britain's best, too. It is these Spanish outdoor festivals which have inspired Tobias Blazquez-Garcia, the award-winning mixologist of PINTXO People bar, to create three new Sherry cooler cocktails here in the UK. All three are ideal for making and enjoying at home.

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