FOOD + DRINK
EYES ON THE PIES CONT .
But what , pray tell , is the nation ’ s favourite pie ? That we can tell you . According to brand new national research by Foodhub ( www . foodhub . co . uk ), steak and kidney pie has been crowned the UK ’ s most popular savoury pie , just pipping chicken and mushroom to second spot , while classic apple pie has indeed come a long way since the cookbooks of Chaucer and Richard II , topping the charts in the dessert pie section , with banoffee pie hot on apple pie ’ s heels in results obviously best viewed in the form of a pie chart !
Whilst the sweet pie top three shows no change when compared to order data from last year , it appears steak and kidney has caused an upset in the savoury section , as chicken and mushroom has been knocked down from its previous top-spot pole position as the country ’ s most popular . Ardian Mula , Foodhub spokesperson said : “ A savoury pie is such a classic British dish , so it comes as no surprise to see steak and kidney take first place . This shows an interesting consumer change , following on from last year ’ s study , as chicken and mushroom has been knocked down to second . We were surprised to see that a vegetarian option didn ’ t make the top five , such as cheese and onion , which is usually a classic choice , not just amongst planteaters , but meat-eaters too . Of course , it came as no surprise to see apple pie secure the top spot for the nation ' s sweet-pie favourite .”
According to The Melton Mowbray Pork Pie Association ( www . mmppa . co . uk ) who host the annual British Pie Awards ( www . britishpieawards . co . uk ), a pie is defined as ‘ a filling totally encased in pastry and baked ’. They also claim that the British eat millions of these packages of goodness every year , totalling over a whopping one billion pounds ! It is therefore no surprise that the humble pie is an icon of British cuisine and also one of Britain ’ s most important contributions to international cuisines too . Since 2009 the British Pie Awards have been celebrating the craft and skill of the British piemaker , with 23 classes that include hot and cold and sweet and savoury pies . Aiming to celebrate the heritage of the British pie , protect and promote regional specialities , recognise the craft of bakers , butchers and other producers and support British produce , the British Pie Awards have become a much anticipated national event and something for pie-loving Brits to be uniquely proud of .
Representing the county with top-class pies year after year is Kentish Mayde ( www . kentishmayde . co . uk ) who have been crafting these award-winning delicacies for over 20 years . A Kent-based , family-run company that was founded to supply quality pastry products to retail and wholesale customers , you can now find them all over the UK , including local farm shops such as Gibsons Farm Shop ( www . gibsonsfarmshop . com ) and many more . Since 2001 , Kentish Mayde has been awarded over 45 British Pie Awards for their products , the finest being their recent 2019 Class Winner - chicken , Brie and cranberry and their pièce de résistance , multi-award-winning steak and ale pie . Covering all pie bases , Kentish Mayde have a wide range of sweet and savoury delicacies that include pasties and slices , speciality pork pies and gorgeous fruit pies . This year ' s winners of the British Pie Awards will be announced on Friday 11th March at St Mary ’ s Church in Melton Mowbray , and we eagerly await the results .
To get a slice of the pie action , Kent is without a doubt one of the best places to visit . Comforting , hearty and substantial , eating a pie is sure to give us a feeling of contentment and evoke warm emotions and fond memories of home-cooked goodness . This is why the setting of where we eat a pie is crucial to our enjoyment of one , so where better to eat them than in surroundings that are equally as comforting . Snuggle next to a crackling fire amidst low oak beams in a cosy country pub restaurant , or even purchase a pie from a really good butcher to eat in the comfort of your own home .
© Priscilla Du Preez
© FitNish Media
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