British Pie Awards

Pork pies and the British go hand in hand and so it's no surprise that the British Pie Awards are held in pork pie central, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire.  This is the event where the British staple gets its moment of glory: a celebration of British pies whether savoury or sweet.  Nowadays they're available in many guises and they'll be put through their paces by a panel of experts.

THE JUDGES

Celebrity Chefs Tony Tobin and Phil Vickery joined the panel along with TV chef Rosemary Shrager, known for her part in the Ladette to Lady series, popular School for Cooks, Taste the Nation and her Georgian themed cooking on Supersizes for BBC2. The Countryfile presenter Julia Bradbury was there too, rooting for the Melton Mowbray pork pie. Other judges munching their way through pies included Angela Boggiano, food editor of Delicious, Charles Campion of Evening Standard, Xanthe Clay of The Daily Telegraph, Tamasin Day-Lewis, author of Queen of Tarts, Rachel Green and Simon Majumdar restaurant blogger and author. To ensure that the pies were judged to the highest standard, a number of the UK's leading experts from the butchery and bakery trade are on the panel. For an inkling of how the pies are judged, watch the video below.

CELEBRATION OF PIES

Over 700 entries were received, all of which were prodded and tasted at St. Mary's Church in Melton Mowbray on Wednesday 19th May. Melton Mowbray Pork Pie Association, organisers of the event, aim to achieve the following:-

To celebrate the heritage of the British pie
To protect and promote regional specialities
To recognise the craft of bakers, butchers and other producers
To support British produce

AWARDS 2009



KEEN AS MUSTARD

Colman's is the proud sponsors of The British Pie Awards this year. Its mustards have been giving British food added zest since 1814. The company is now nearly 200 years old and even today, for many, a pie isn't a pie without a dollop of Colman's mustard.

THE COMPETITION 2010

This year, there were thirteen categories with a new guest category, the Radio Pie, giving local radio stations the chance to get involved and the winners were:-

Supreme Champion - Pork, Chicken and Ham Pie produced by Walker's Charnwood Bakery for Waitrose

Pork Pie - Large Pork Pie produced by Walker's Charnwood Bakery for Henry Walker

Steak and Kidney Pie - Produced by Peter's Food Services

Savoury Pie (Hot) - Steak and Ale Pie produced by Devilish Desserts

Savoury Pie (Cold) - Pork, Chicken and Ham Pie produced by Walker's Charnwood Bakery for Waitrose

Fish Pie - Cod with White Wine Pie produced by Boghall Butchers

Vegetarian Pie - Vegetarian Haggis Pie produced by Boghall Butchers

Cornish Pasty - Produced by The Proper Cornish Food Company

Other Pasty - Steak Pasty produced by Arthur Chatwin Ltd

British Apple Pie - Bramley and Cox Apple Pie produced by Northfield Farm

Other Dessert Pie - Fruits of the Forest Pie produced by Brockleby's

Football Pie - Steak and Potato Pie produced by JW Mettrick & Son for Glossop North End

Radio Pie - Pork and Damson Pie produced by Dales Traditional Butchers for Indigo 106 FM

Presenter's Choice - Gala Slicing Pie produced by Walker's Charnwood Bakery for Sainsbury's

5th May 10