FRENCH cuisine is regarded as world class so Leominster's Saverne Twinning Association needed little excuse to sample a traditional dish last week.

Thirty two members of the association gathered at Leominster’s Forbury Chapel to enjoy a ‘Baeckeoffe’ meal – a traditional French dish from Saverne in the Alsace region.

Made up of three meats, vegetables and wine, Baeckeoffe is traditionally cooked and served in a highly decorated casserole dish from one of the region’s potteries such as Soufflenheim.

The dish was prepared by one of the members, Julian Todd, and cooked in some of the dishes already owned by members.

And in true French fashion the Baekereoffe was served with green salad and French bread.

Six apple tarts, made by different members of the association all to the same Alsatian recipe, were served as the dessert.

All money raised from the evening will be used towards entertaining the French twinning visitors from Saverne when they come to Leominster next June.