product update
pies
Crust never sleeps LYNDA SEARBY eyes up the latest developments in speciality pie-making
Four new pies have come out of Okemoor’s West Country kitchen in the last 12 months: chicken curry, chicken & chorizo, ham hock & pea and ploughman’s pie – made from local pork, local Cheddar cheese and homemade spiced apple chutney. All have a trade price of £2.38 (RRP £3.40) and are supplied in boxes of nine pies. www.okemoor.co.uk
Brockleby’s is targeting male shoppers with 300g ‘man size’ pies in seven flavours (trade £2.55-£3.30, RRP £4-£4.50): Wild Beaver (beef in ale), wild deer, Longhorn steak pie with Stilton, Tarka pie (free-range chicken tikka), Little Chukky (chicken & mushroom), Moroccan lamb, and Penguin (smoked haddock and potato in cheddar & onion sauce). Pies can be delivered fresh or frozen and cooked straight from frozen. Also new from the Melton Mowbray producer is an organic Stilton pork pie (190g) which has been listed by Abel & Cole.
www.uppercrustpies.com
Timmy’s Pies is now producing Tiny Timmy’s pies – mini versions of its classic shortcrust pies. Using only free-range British meat and game, the pies come in seasonal flavours
www.toms-pies.co.uk
Several recent collaborations have yielded some new creations from Mr.C’s Hand-Crafted Pies. September saw the launch of a new variety developed for organic meat supplier Peelham Farm using their Italian sausage mix and ruby veal, as well as the first deliveries of mini pork pies and game pies to Donald Russell for sale under the online butcher’s own label. Mr.C’s is also busy working on several new pies for launch in Fortnum & Mason this autumn: pork pies with Fortnum & Mason’s piccalilli, ploughman’s pies with Isle of Mull Cheddar & Fortnum & Mason’s pickle and three sizes of game pie.
A new pigeon pie has been “flying off the shelves” at York’s Ye Olde Pie & Sausage Shoppe. Filled with locally shot pigeons marinated in port and cooked with wild mushrooms and a port gravy, the individual shortcrust pastry pies (RRP £2) are also available to retail outlets, pubs, restaurants and hotels in York and surrounding areas. www.yorksausageshop.co.uk
such as chicken, mushroom & white truffle oil, wild rabbit & mushroom and slow roast pork & rhubarb. Each mini pie has a seven-day shelf life and a trade price of 90p. Retail boxes of 18 have an RRP of £25. Fellow London pie purveyor Square Pie is also tapping into the downsizing trend with Canapies – miniature three-bite pies in four flavours: chicken & mushroom, BBQ Bourbon beef, steak & ale and spinach,
www.mrcspies.co.uk
The Great North Pie Co has raided the local larder for its autumn pie menu (RRP £3.95 each), which features ox cheek, potato & horseradish; Goosnargh chicken, Stornoway Black pudding, apple & mustard; Cheshire blue cheese, pear & walnut and Lancashire cheese & onion. www.greatnorthpie.co
www.brocklebys.co.uk
The Uppercrust Pie Co is cashing in on the latest trend, adding a BBQ pulled pork variant to its picnic range of lidded 140g pies and a pulled pork pie topped with scrumpy apple cider chutney to its collection of 140g party pies. The Manchester producer has also developed four new fillings for its party pies: chicken & ham topped with apple & ginger chutney, Gloucester Old Spot pork topped with brandy apple cider chutney, and turkey & ham with cranberry & port and lamb with redcurrant jelly.
Mini pies
Inspired by the classic Southern Indian recipe, Tom’s Pies’ new beef Madras pie is said to deliver a sweet, savoury and earthy combination of toasted spices, slow-cooked blade of beef, tomatoes and coconut, encased in Tom Cull’s trademark thin and buttery shortcrust pastry. Trade price is £2.15 and the RRP is £3.50 per pie.
Gluten-free pie brand Clive’s Pies has launched two new veggie flavours and redesigned its packaging to better protect the delicate pastry. Mushroom & leek packs in herbs and vegetables in a creamy sauce and Homity – Devon’s own open-topped cheesy potato pie – is filled with fresh vegetables, vegetarian cheddar cheese, mustard and herbs. Both come in newly designed boxes that double up as a handy tray for on-the-go eating. www.clivespies.co.uk
sweet potato & goats cheese. Initially, Canapies are launching exclusively with Ocado, in multipacks of 4 x 60g pies, at an RRP of £3.79. This is Square Pie’s first foray into retail – previously it has concentrated on selling its pies through its own five London outlets. www.timmyspies.com www.squarepie.com
New to speciality pies… Since February, The Gourmet Pie Company has been showing its wares at events in and around Nottinghamshire and has just secured a listing with The Country Victualler. Founder Damien Toms says he is focusing on using traditional craft methods, rolling the pastry by hand for maximum shortness and cutting the meat by hand so every customer gets large chunks in each pie. Savoury options include steak & Roaring Meg ale pie and rabbit pie with wholegrain mustard &
leek, both with an RRP of £4 for an individual pie, £6 for a medium pie and £15 for a dinner party pie. On the sweet side, there is Bramley apple, blackberry & apple, raspberry & apple and black cherry, which retail at £3 for an individual pie and £5.50 for a large pie. www.thecountryvictualler.com
Vol.15 Issue 9 · October 2014
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