Monday 31 December 2012
2012 Pierate Pie-lights!
It may be cliché,
but what a year it’s just been! 2012 everybody! Take a bow!
There are too many highlights to mention them all here, but here are a few 2012 Pie-lights from the Pierateers:
Pies reviewed from Germany, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Australia, Wales, Corfu and - of course - England! (too many to link to!)
And who can
forget the record-breaking 63 posts made this year (including the first
September post on pierate!), making it the most productive year yet! Here’s to
many more pies and reviews in 2013!
Forget the Christmas Pudding! I want Aldi Pie!
Aldi Specially Selected Luxury Apple (with Sultanas) Pie Review
When my old uni friend Dan suggested bringing Apple Pie, alongside Christmas Pudding, for our “277 Dawlish” Christmas meal together, my immediate thought was “forget the Christmas Pudding!” But for the good of the non-Pierateers in attendance at the meal, I thought I best not be too pie-ased with my favouritism for pie. (Apparently some people do eat other puddings now and then?!)
So with all
the visitors – “Andy”, Dan and Mandy, James, Jeremy, Mark, Seth and Stu (and
Barnaby via text) – having tucked into the Melon starter and Roast Turkey
dinner, it was time to bring on (and somehow find room for) the pie and
custard. A quite massive “Specially Selected Luxury Apple Pie” was brought out,
having been cooked for a good 45 minutes on low heat, so it was piping hot and golden
in colour – perfect condition for a Pierateer. The pastry itself ranged from quite
a thick crisp outer crust to a slightly soggier central pastry lid. The apple
was in quite large chunks but was very tasty and soft to cut through. The mix
of pastry and apple – with the odd sultana thrown in for good measure – was delightfully
balanced content. The capacity couldn’t have been any greater, with no room for
air in this pie! Serving at least 12, it was a great sized pudding too. My main
criticism is that the central pastry was a bit too soggy, but overall the
feedback from myself (and my distinguished guests) was that this really was a
luxurious pie. Just next time, I’ll try not to make the error of having such a
large portion of dinner beforehand!
Aldi Apple Pie Review |
Aldi Specially Selected Luxury Apple (with Sultanas) Pie
Score: 6.05/7
RAS
Pierate is a pie review website charting a course to find the ultimate pie. For all the pies we have reviewed have a look at our Pie Rankings or find pies of a particular flavour under Pies: Categorised.
Make sure you Follow @pierateers
and let us know your thoughts!
|
Sunday 23 December 2012
Is it a McPie? - The McDonald’s Festive Chocolate Pie
I’m sure most
of our avid readers have read our critique of the McDonald’s Apple Pie (UKedition). In fact, at 863 page views and counting, it’s our most popular
article. But here at pierate we can’t hold a grudge – and more importantly,
daren’t miss out on a potentially good pie. Which is why, in this festive
period, with goodwill to all pie manufacturers, I couldn’t resist the chance
for a new potential pie flavour. Could the McPastry department have realised
the error of their ways? Had they taken on a new Head of McPastry and gone for
an actual pie this time? The golden arches beckoned me in for a festive McDonald’s Orange Flavour Chocolate Pie...
McDonald's Festive Pie |
Orange flavoured chocolate filling pastry (it's not a pie!) |
From
everyone aboard the Pierate ship - Merry Christmas everyone!
RAS
Friday 21 December 2012
Good Things Come to Those Who Wait(rose)
Note: The following pie is no longer being sold by Waitrose in this form, having been replaced by a 'top crust' version. We are clearly disappointed that Waitrose have done this!
|
Waitrose - Chicken and White Wine Pie Review
I don't often pop into my local Waitrose. Mainly because I don't have one. I live in one of the more 'edgy' parts of South London. We don't have many of the kinds of people who go to Waitrose. More the kinds of people who walk down the street talking to a stick or asking for 37p because they went into the pub and 'lost' all their money.
So upon finding myself in a Waitrose store I decided to try one of their premium products. I thought I deserved this after taking one for the team and reviewing some of the cheap Tesco Value pies. The slightly unusual flavour of Chicken & Tarragon caught my eye. This pie came in at just under £4 for one which didn't seem great on the Cheapness front. That said it probably wasn't designed to be for one person but I felt up to the challenge. It looked to be in great Condition after a short time in the cookery box. A golden puff pastry lid and shortcrust sides, my favourite. Cutting it open a lovely creamy gravy oozed out. Taking a bite what struck me was the unusually high quality of the chicken. It didn't taste at all reconstituted or pumped full of water like too often is the case with supermarket pies. The next feather in the cap for this pie was one of the holy grails for the pie lover. Pastry crispy on the outside but gooey on the inside. It was really a delight to eat and one of the best pies I have had in a while.
Chicken, White Wine & Tarragon (Waitrose)
6.35/7
SJL
Tuesday 18 December 2012
The best pie blog is on Twitter!
So 1,132 days since we first started blogging about our love of pies, we have finally taken our pie craving to Twitter! We'll be tweeting about all sorts of pie-related things - steak pies, apple pies, pie crust, pie recipes, you name it - and we'd love you to become a follower!
continue reading "The best pie blog is on Twitter!"
Pierate is a pie review website charting a course to find the ultimate pie. For all the pies we have reviewed have a look at our Pie Rankings or find pies of a particular flavour under Pies: Categorised.
|
Friday 14 December 2012
All I want for Christmas is... meat pie!
On a cold
December lunchtime, the Christmas tree and festive decorations welcome locals
into the Sacks of Potatoes pub in central Birmingham. But to be honest, for me,
all they needed were the “Turkey and Sausage Pie” adverts that seemed to adorn
nearly every table in the pub, as part of their festive menu. I was sold. After
all, putting the traditional Roast Turkey aside for a minute, what better
festivity than to share a Christmas Pie with all the meaty trimmings?!
The
Christmas pie revolution seems to be taking off, with pies adorning pub festive
menus. And at £5.95 for a pie dinner and drink, it’s decent value too. It’s a
great alternative to the standard roast – perhaps a Boxing day treat for those
Christmas leftovers? What’s important though here is that they stuck to their
guns with the traditional turkey and a focus of meat, meat, meat! Nice one. Merry
Christmas everybody!
Turkey and
Sausage (with Cranberry) Pie
Score: 5.75/7
RAS
Tuesday 11 December 2012
Can you taste the difference? Sainsbury's pie review
Sainsbury's Taste The Difference Chicken and Ham and Steak Pie Reviews
Sainsbury's Taste The Difference range brags that you can literally, taste the difference. However, it doesn't specify what you are trying to taste the difference between?
This Pierateer decided to try and taste the difference between two pies, utilizing the offer of 2 pies for £5. One pie was peppered beef steak flavour and the other was chicken and ham flavour, and let me tell you I could certainly taste the difference between them!
The pastry of both was wonderful. It was light and crispy on the outside with a nice golden colour, and the inside was lovely and gooey, soaked in gravy.
The capacity left a lot to be desired though. Although only small pies (individual sized), the chunks of meat, specifically in the chicken and ham pie, were few and far between. Certainly, I've had pies with worse filling, but for a 'posh' pie I was a bit disappointed. For the steak pie, I didn't really think that it could be bragged as being 'peppered'. There were some whole black peppercorns in there, but it wasn't that peppery.
I did enjoy my lunch time snack, and for £2.50 (regular price £2.99) the were probably worth the price, but honestly I would probably rather spend £1.50 on the regular Sainsbury's pie.
Sainsbury's Taste The Difference Steak Pie
Score: 4.3/7
Sainsbury's Taste The Difference Chicken and Ham Pie
Score: 4.1/7
ARL
continue reading "Can you taste the difference? Sainsbury's pie review"
Sainsbury's Taste The Difference range brags that you can literally, taste the difference. However, it doesn't specify what you are trying to taste the difference between?
This Pierateer decided to try and taste the difference between two pies, utilizing the offer of 2 pies for £5. One pie was peppered beef steak flavour and the other was chicken and ham flavour, and let me tell you I could certainly taste the difference between them!
The pastry of both was wonderful. It was light and crispy on the outside with a nice golden colour, and the inside was lovely and gooey, soaked in gravy.
The capacity left a lot to be desired though. Although only small pies (individual sized), the chunks of meat, specifically in the chicken and ham pie, were few and far between. Certainly, I've had pies with worse filling, but for a 'posh' pie I was a bit disappointed. For the steak pie, I didn't really think that it could be bragged as being 'peppered'. There were some whole black peppercorns in there, but it wasn't that peppery.
I did enjoy my lunch time snack, and for £2.50 (regular price £2.99) the were probably worth the price, but honestly I would probably rather spend £1.50 on the regular Sainsbury's pie.
Sainsbury's Taste The Difference Steak Pie
Score: 4.3/7
Sainsbury's Taste The Difference Chicken and Ham Pie
Score: 4.1/7
ARL
See where this pie ended up in the Pierate Pie Rankings or find other pies of a similar flavour.
Make sure you Follow @pierateers
and let us know your thoughts!
|
Monday 26 November 2012
Half Time Pie
What are the cheapest and most expensive pies at football clubs? After all, cheapness is one Pierate's Seven Cs when assessing for the best pie in the world.
continue reading "Half Time Pie"
What else would you do at half time?!! I think it pretty much explains itself... http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19981001 |
Tuesday 13 November 2012
Cor! What a scorcher of a pie in Corfu
*Pierate are extremely proud to present this very special guest review from one of our treasured readers*
In the village of Loustri, in the North Eastern corner of Corfu above Agni Bay, they hold a Pie Festival every September. There are competitions for the best pies and local bakers make giant pies which are eaten accompanied by live music and much local wine. This would be perfect, but we were there in May.
Fortunately the traditional Corfiot pie can be found all year round in the ancient walled city of Corfu. They are typically sold from tiny shops with only a small window opening on to the street and maybe an old table and chairs in the street to sit on. The chairs are usually occupied by the owner's father and his friend and they are unlikely to move all day. We took our pies to the Old Port Square beneath the fortress for our lunch.
So, how do they rate to the seven C’s? Very well, in my opinion. Corfu pies are about the cheapest hot food you will find in this popular tourist location. They are made with layers of delicious crisp flaky pastry cooked until golden brown and served to you hot. Three types of filling are usually available, Spinach, Cheese, or Ham and Cheese and prices were around two Euro. I went for the Cheese and Ham. My pie was suitably full with pieces of ham and a thick rich cheese sauce. This complemented the crispy pastry for a tasty satisfying lunch that ticked all the boxes.
I have to admit that the clear blue skies, hot weather and beautiful views probably help with my opinion that this pie would score 6.0. Serve it in England on a wet afternoon and it would probably slip to 5.50.
If you are in Corfu it’s not to be missed. One word of warning though, watch out for the hungry sea gulls.
Score: 6.0
BB
----
Editor: We're glad you enjoyed the pie, and we're very jealous of the sunny weather in Corfu. Perhaps a return visit to Corfu next September might be a good plan for us all?
Thursday 1 November 2012
Memoirs of a Pie Addict
There is nothing that quite warms the heart,
Like that particular pastry work of art,
It's that special pie geometry,
That adds an extra appeal for me,
A Pierateer must be precise,
You can't make the mistake of getting a slice,
Don't even try because I'll never agree,
To consider ranking a Cornish pasty,
The only problem is that I can't stop,
Eating pie and mash with gravy on top,
I always say 'I'll have some more',
Even when I've eaten three or four,
For a pie addict it's not a bad suggestion,
To have something on hand for indigestion,
I've had so much of sailing the seven C's,
That I'm in danger or cardiovascular disease,
At my growing waist I can only watch,
As I have to open my belt another notch,
I look around and see it in their eyes,
They think 'it was you who ate all the pies!'
Trust me don't jump to volunteer,
To live the life of a Pierateer,
But at the end of the day it's all worthwhile,
As a meal pie is extremely versatile,
So I'll never give up, I find it fulfilling,
To live a life of pastry, gravy and filling
www.pierate.co.uk
SJL
continue reading "Memoirs of a Pie Addict"
Like that particular pastry work of art,
It's that special pie geometry,
That adds an extra appeal for me,
A Pierateer must be precise,
You can't make the mistake of getting a slice,
Don't even try because I'll never agree,
To consider ranking a Cornish pasty,
The only problem is that I can't stop,
Eating pie and mash with gravy on top,
I always say 'I'll have some more',
Even when I've eaten three or four,
For a pie addict it's not a bad suggestion,
To have something on hand for indigestion,
I've had so much of sailing the seven C's,
That I'm in danger or cardiovascular disease,
At my growing waist I can only watch,
As I have to open my belt another notch,
I look around and see it in their eyes,
They think 'it was you who ate all the pies!'
Trust me don't jump to volunteer,
To live the life of a Pierateer,
But at the end of the day it's all worthwhile,
As a meal pie is extremely versatile,
So I'll never give up, I find it fulfilling,
To live a life of pastry, gravy and filling
www.pierate.co.uk
SJL
Sunday 21 October 2012
Tasty at the Tavern?
The Selly ParkTavern was the place to go with friends from the X:site youth event in
Birmingham, to catch up on the latest event and have a meal together. And with
the night chosen being “Pie Night”, surely it couldn’t have been better timed!
So having ordered my Chicken and Ham Suet Pie, I eagerly awaited its arrival –
especially as there hadn’t been even a hint of a discount on the pie despite it
being pie night after all! Was it really that good?!
Sadly I have
to say it didn’t blow me away. The filling was quite a nice consistency with
the chicken and ham complementing one another well. It was a nice sauce too.
However the pastry left me disappointed. It was rather too crispy and dry on
the outside but with the pastry being quite thick the centre was quite soggy.
The taste was also quite overpowering. Particularly as the price hadn’t even
been discounted for pie night, it was a bit of a blow. There’s certainly better
pies on the Ember Inns menu.
Chicken and
Ham Suet Pie (Ember Inns)
Score: 3.95/7
RAS
Friday 12 October 2012
An Unfulfilling Situation - Tesco Pie Review
After having tried the Tesco Everyday Value Beef and Onion pie and survived I decided to delve even deeper into the murky depths of cheap pies by getting a whole box of 4 Tesco Everyday Value Chicken and Vegetable frozen pies for a quid. The first thing I noticed was that these pies were pretty tiny which partly explained the cheapness. Once cooked however they did look fairly good with the classic shortcrust base and puff pastry lid combination.
It will be of no surprise that once I had cut into the pie no gravy or filling of any description came oozing out. I decided to cut the pie in half to have a closer look. I then separated the contents of the pie from the pastry as can be seen in the photos. It was a pretty poor showing, they didn't even fill it with the cheaper stuff like vegetables, the four peas and tiny pieces of carrot did little to hide the lack of chicken. I thought the filling could fit into a pie about a quarter of the size. Looking at the ingredients this wasn't surprising, it lists chicken breast as 10% and vegetables as 5%. To put this in context most pies we review are at least 50% filling. Everything was coated in gravy but the liquid content of the pie was pretty poor too. With other cheap pies you might expect too much gravy if anything to hide the lack of content, this pie didn't even bother.
But despite all this, as with the beef and onion version, the pie didn't actually taste bad. It was certainly edible which is more than can be said for some of the pies we have reviewed. The pastry was overly crunchy but the smear of gravy on it gave some flavour.
However, you would still, given a choice, not buy these pies. It is not like they are nutritious. They contain barely any protein and 28% of an adults daily saturated fat. I imagine they would actually often be eaten by children and I dread to think how bad it is for them. I can't help feel that people who end up feeling they have to buy these have been let down by society somehow. Maybe that is an idea. A charity to help those who are eating these pies. Pies for the Poor; bring them a selection of pies from the Top 10 as recommended by the Pierateers! This will be our first policy as soon as the Pierateers form a political party. Given the lack of popularity of any party in the UK currently I think we might just get elected....
Chicken & Vegetable (Tesco Everyday Value)
2.24/7
SJL
Saturday 29 September 2012
Not Everyday Pies from Tesco
Tesco Pie Review - Everyday Value Beef and Onion
I had mixed feelings when I learnt of the demise of the Tesco Value brand. Of course it was low quality but I could remember those days at university when they helped me save a fair few pennies. I learnt to never buy the tooth breaking muesli unless I wanted to eat a mixture of stones and sawdust but there were some products I was willing to buy. At least you knew what to expect and the brand became fairly iconic with other supermarkets bringing out similar brands after the introduction of Tesco Value in 1993. There were even Tesco Value birthday cards for when it really is the thought that counts.
So, Tesco Value has been replaced with Tesco Everyday Value, a new much more appealing branding. Tesco also promise that they have improved many of the 550 products in the range. For example, the apple sauce is now to contain 33% more apple! To give our pie reviews some balance I thought this would be a good time to see how the cheapest pies stacked up against their much more pricey rivals. After all they would undoubtably score highly on cheapness.
I opted for a pack of three Beef and Onion pies for £1 which makes these some of the cheapest pies I have ever eaten. As you can see from the picture, they didn't look too bad, the condition was good. As soon as my knife cut the pie open however I thought these might be some trick 'air' pies like the pound shop versions we reviewed before. The filling wasn't immediately apparent, there wasn't a lot, as would be expected from these cheap pies. Taking a bite, I can safely say this wasn't the worst pie I'd ever tasted. In fact it didn't actually taste bad. The pastry was okay, it had a satisfying crunch to it. The meat in the filling was ground up so finely you couldn't actually tell that it was snouts and entrails and there was no need to chew. I saw a couple of tiny pieces of onion floating around too. Certainly this pie was below average but it was not quite as bad as I was expecting.
Tesco Everyday Value Beef and Onion Pie
Score: 2.45/7
SJL
P.S. This is our first ever post in September, strange how these things go isn't it?
continue reading "Not Everyday Pies from Tesco"
I had mixed feelings when I learnt of the demise of the Tesco Value brand. Of course it was low quality but I could remember those days at university when they helped me save a fair few pennies. I learnt to never buy the tooth breaking muesli unless I wanted to eat a mixture of stones and sawdust but there were some products I was willing to buy. At least you knew what to expect and the brand became fairly iconic with other supermarkets bringing out similar brands after the introduction of Tesco Value in 1993. There were even Tesco Value birthday cards for when it really is the thought that counts.
So, Tesco Value has been replaced with Tesco Everyday Value, a new much more appealing branding. Tesco also promise that they have improved many of the 550 products in the range. For example, the apple sauce is now to contain 33% more apple! To give our pie reviews some balance I thought this would be a good time to see how the cheapest pies stacked up against their much more pricey rivals. After all they would undoubtably score highly on cheapness.
Tesco Everyday Value Beef and Onion Pie |
Inside the Tesco Everyday Value Beef and Onion Pie |
I opted for a pack of three Beef and Onion pies for £1 which makes these some of the cheapest pies I have ever eaten. As you can see from the picture, they didn't look too bad, the condition was good. As soon as my knife cut the pie open however I thought these might be some trick 'air' pies like the pound shop versions we reviewed before. The filling wasn't immediately apparent, there wasn't a lot, as would be expected from these cheap pies. Taking a bite, I can safely say this wasn't the worst pie I'd ever tasted. In fact it didn't actually taste bad. The pastry was okay, it had a satisfying crunch to it. The meat in the filling was ground up so finely you couldn't actually tell that it was snouts and entrails and there was no need to chew. I saw a couple of tiny pieces of onion floating around too. Certainly this pie was below average but it was not quite as bad as I was expecting.
Tesco Everyday Value Beef and Onion Pie
Score: 2.45/7
SJL
P.S. This is our first ever post in September, strange how these things go isn't it?
See where this pie ended up in the Pierate Pie Rankings or find other pies of a similar flavour.
Make sure you Follow @pierateers
and let us know your thoughts!
|
Monday 20 August 2012
Reading About Pies
Sweeney and Todd - Vicar's Pie Review
In the pie reviewing business you always have to be on the look out for where the best pies can be found. There are just too many pies out there to review them all, no matter how hard we try. This can involve reading about pies, attending gourmet pie shows but most important of all, following up recommendations (see 'Suggest A Pie').
Sweeney and Todd Pie Counter |
This leads me on to a place in Reading which I have had recommended to me by a few people. The fact that it has such a formidable reputation gave me high hopes for something special. The place in question is called Sweeney and Todd and what a brave name that is to give a pie establishment. It is take away or eat in with some roasts and casseroles available but the main focus is always on pies. My first impression was... where is it? The outside of the establishment was fairly nondescript. In fact it looks pretty run down and quite unappealing. Despite this there was a queue out the door, which hinted there must be something pretty good inside. Too many of the modern pie shops which have sprung up recently look fantastic but do nothing special with their pies. Sweeney and Todd certainly do something special to their pies (but hopefully not that...). Once I got into the shop and surveyed the magnificent selection I could tell they had a special cooking method. These seem to be pies cooked inside a pie mould, which stops the pies drying out and gives the pastry a fantastically gooey texture.
I opted for a Vicar's Pie. Vicars is the name of the butcher's in Reading which provides the meat for the pies. I deduced that the pie contained lamb, pork, carrot, potato, leek, mint and potentially some other ingredients as well. The combination was a bit unusual and the gravy had a delicious thickness to it, almost like jelly. The only slight criticism I might have is that there was a lot of mint, verging on too much. This certainly didn't stop this being one of my favourite ever pies. The meat was great quality and at £3 this pie was cheaper than many other pie establishments. I would note that one of my pie eating companions had a pork and apple pie which had far too much apple in it. It was like eating a sweet apple pie with pork in. So Sweeney and Todd are not perfect but for a pie lover it would be barbarous not to murder one of their demon pies.
Sweeney and Todd Vicar's Pie |
Vicar's Pie (Sweeney and Todd)
Score: 6.30/7
SJL
Pierate is a pie review website charting a course to find the ultimate pie. For all the pies we have reviewed have a look at our Pie Rankings or find pies of a particular flavour under Pies: Categorised.
Make sure you Follow @pierateers
and let us know your thoughts!
|
Saturday 11 August 2012
ExCellent Olympics Pies
ExCel Centre - Creativevents Ltd - Chicken Pie and Steak Pie Reviews
As Boris Johnson famously said at the handover of the Olympic games to London "ping pong is coming home ... where as the French looked at the dining table and saw an opportunity to have dinner, we (the British) looked at a dining table and saw the opportunity to play Wiff Waff (original name of table tennis)."
Fortunately the British did also see the opportunity to have dinner at the dining table and Wiff Waff was not the only British invention to grace the table. British cuisine is often forgotten or derided internationally. This was why it was nice to see a selection of British food available to an international audience when two of the Pierateers went to see Olympic table tennis.
The Emirates Air Line with the ExCel Centre in the background |
There has been plenty of talk, even on these pages, of Olympic food and pies being expensive. However, upon leaving the Pierateers were delighted to find someone directing people to the pie stall for half price pies. The normal price was £7 for pie, mash and peas, which didn't seem so bad for a meal in a sports venue. However, £3.50 was an absolute bargain (though we do of course consider the price as it would normally be sold, not the special offer price, when rating cheapness). You might think they were selling dried out pies cheap at the end of the day but far from it. Both pies has nearly perfect levels of crispiness of the pastry.
There were multiple pies on offer so the Pierateers chose one Chicken and one Steak. The chicken pie was complemented for it's crisp and delicious pastry and large chunks of meatylicious chicken. The sauce was nice and creamy. This would clearly inspire a generation of pie eaters.
The Steak pie was much the same, the meat was fantastically tender. The pastry perfectly gooey. Despite already having eaten dinner this Pierateer could have eaten another of these pies they were so good.
Given this unique opportunity to showcase British pies it was great that the organisers put the emphais on quality. So often at sports venues, because of the capitive audience the food is mediocre.
These pies are another great performance and surely a gold medal to cap off a wonderful Olympic games for Team GB.
P.S. The company providing these pies was Creativevents, if you are ever organising an Olympic games they come as highly rated caterers.
Chicken Pie (ExCel Centre - Creativevents Ltd)
5.50/7 (RAS)
Steak Pie (ExCel Centre - Creativevents Ltd)
5.50/7 (SJL)
The ExCel Centre Steak Pie |
The ExCel Centre Chicken Pie |
SJL
Sunday 5 August 2012
Olympic Pie: Football at London 2012
Peter's Steak Pie review
You’d have struggled to miss that the 30th Olympic Games are in full swing, being hosted by the city of London - London 2012. And with some of the Pierateers getting involved in the volunteering effort, it has left www.pierate.co.uk a bit quiet following the celebratory #100thPie Review. But fear not, for the lads have still been busy tucking into pies – of Olympic standard, none-the-less – and here is the first Olympic Pie review...
The pastry
was golden and the filling piping hot (possibly even too hot – I had to wait a
while for it to cool down!) The gravy was delicious and complimented the meat
well, with my main disappointment being that the chunks of meat were a bit too
large and therefore meat was not well spaced evenly throughout the pie but more in clusters. But the
pie itself was a good effort, particularly appeasing the footie pie fan within
me. While not a gold medal winning effort, it was certainly worthy of a medal
and the Olympic movement should be happy with the pies on offer. What I only
found out later was that this was in fact a Peter’s Steak Pie, for the branding
had been removed pre-Olympic Games due to there not being an official Pie
sponsor of the Olympic Games. It only begs the question “why is there not a pie
sponsor for the Olympics?!?!”
continue reading "Olympic Pie: Football at London 2012"
You’d have struggled to miss that the 30th Olympic Games are in full swing, being hosted by the city of London - London 2012. And with some of the Pierateers getting involved in the volunteering effort, it has left www.pierate.co.uk a bit quiet following the celebratory #100thPie Review. But fear not, for the lads have still been busy tucking into pies – of Olympic standard, none-the-less – and here is the first Olympic Pie review...
London 2012 venue 'The City of Coventry Stadium' |
Visiting the
City of Coventry Stadium for the Olympic men’s football, I had a bit of time to
kill between watching Mexico beat Gabon and the start of the South Korea-Switzerland tie, so what better way to spend that time than in getting
that first Olympic Pie under my belt?! I went for the Steak Pie...because,
well, that was sadly the only pie on offer. But in any case, steak is one of my
favourite flavours, so the limited selection wasn’t going to put me off!
Queuing up was however a bit of a mission, with hundreds of fans streaming out
of the stands to get their footie pie fix. Fortunately I had my good friends
Gavin, Joel and Christine to chat to in the queue, and to ease the
disappointment when I found out that having queued for at least 30 minutes, I
would have to wait a further 10 minutes to get my hands on the food, due to
exceptional demand for pies! I can’t say I’m surprised though, because when I
got to dig in it was delicious.
Peter's Steak Pie
Score: 5.75/7
RAS
See where this pie ended up in the Pierate Pie Rankings or find other pies of a similar flavour.
Make sure you Follow @pierateers
and let us know your thoughts!
|
Saturday 21 July 2012
The Pierate Ship gets an update!
So what better time than celebrating the #100thPie Review to announce that the Pierateers have a new logo and t-shirt to celebrate the success of the world's most popular pie reviewing blog! So look out for the Pierateers wearing their Pierate Ship t-shirts with pride in pubs and pie shops near you in the coming months...
continue reading "The Pierate Ship gets an update!"
Thursday 19 July 2012
#100th Pie Review - Square Pie
Well it was bound to come sooner rather than later, with so many pies being eaten and reviewed amongst a busy schedule for the Pierateers, so 852 days after the first review on www.pierate.co.uk, the world's most popular pie blog, we have reached a milestone #100thPie Review! Thanks to everyone who has supported and encouraged the ridiculously high consumption of pies by the Pierateers (it's a wonder we're not all morbidly obese by now). And as a special treat for you all, the pies that got us up to #100thPie have been reviewed by the three most prolific Pierateers. Here goes:
So to mark the final appearance of one of the Pierateers in West London, the three most prolific reviewers hit Westfield Shopping Centre to give Square Pie a go. You can imagine from the it-does-exactly-what-it-does-on-the-tin title of the company that the pies were all - you guessed it - a square shape. So with three Pierateers and way more than three different flavours of pie on the menu, here are the 98th, 99th and 100th pie reviews on www.pierate.co.uk:
Square Pie: Steak and Cheese = 4.34/7
Reviewed by TJP
The Steak and Cheese pie was a high quality offering and the meat was particularly good, however the reviewer felt it was too salty overall which meant that the reviewer couldn't manage to finish the whole content of the pie. The pie was expensive, but it was evident that they cared about the condition the pie came in.
Square Pie: Chicken Curry = 5.25/7
Reviewed by SJL
It was a nice, vintage pie, with light pastry and a spicy but not too hot filling. It packed a flavoursome punch. The pastry was nice and light, gooey and complemented the contents well. A bit too pricey but one thing I would say is that the pie was certainly filling, so this more than made up for the cost.
Square Pie: Steak and Kidney =5.15/7
Reviewed by RAS
The pastry was nice and light, with no thick side crust which can be the downside of many a pie. The content was very nice, with good chunks of tasty steak. The gravy was also very good, and the mix of content between the steak, kidney and chunks of carrot worked well. The price was quite high but for a filling pie it was worth the expense.
So there you have it - the #100thPie reviewed and here's to the next 100 pie reviews!
continue reading "#100th Pie Review - Square Pie"
So to mark the final appearance of one of the Pierateers in West London, the three most prolific reviewers hit Westfield Shopping Centre to give Square Pie a go. You can imagine from the it-does-exactly-what-it-does-on-the-tin title of the company that the pies were all - you guessed it - a square shape. So with three Pierateers and way more than three different flavours of pie on the menu, here are the 98th, 99th and 100th pie reviews on www.pierate.co.uk:
Square Pie: Steak and Cheese = 4.34/7
Reviewed by TJP
The Steak and Cheese pie was a high quality offering and the meat was particularly good, however the reviewer felt it was too salty overall which meant that the reviewer couldn't manage to finish the whole content of the pie. The pie was expensive, but it was evident that they cared about the condition the pie came in.
Square Pie: Chicken Curry = 5.25/7
Reviewed by SJL
It was a nice, vintage pie, with light pastry and a spicy but not too hot filling. It packed a flavoursome punch. The pastry was nice and light, gooey and complemented the contents well. A bit too pricey but one thing I would say is that the pie was certainly filling, so this more than made up for the cost.
Square Pie: Steak and Kidney =5.15/7
Reviewed by RAS
The pastry was nice and light, with no thick side crust which can be the downside of many a pie. The content was very nice, with good chunks of tasty steak. The gravy was also very good, and the mix of content between the steak, kidney and chunks of carrot worked well. The price was quite high but for a filling pie it was worth the expense.
So there you have it - the #100thPie reviewed and here's to the next 100 pie reviews!
Wednesday 18 July 2012
The Steak Pie’s Soak-ay
Many have
guessed at why The Soak has acquired its name, but right in the heart of Selly
Oak (S. Oak...Soak...) it certainly provides a nice friendly place to meet
friends and have a pie. I went for the classic option – Steak pie. As you can
see from the photo, it came with mash, peas and a gravy boat. The mash was not
too appetising it had to be said, but the pie was certainly a whole lot better.
The pastry was golden and not too thick, and the meat and gravy was pretty
decent. It was odd being given a half-slice of pie, as it did make me wonder
who had taken the other half, but it was a decent enough pie. Nothing to write
home about, but certainly okay.
Score: 4.15/7
RAS
Sunday 15 July 2012
The Green light’s on for a recommended pie!
So on a
Sunday lunchtime, what better plan after the morning City Church service than
to enjoy a nice pie with some lovely friends from church*. And so, going to one
of our regular post-service haunts, we headed to the Green Man pub in Harborne (part of the Ember Inns chain). And to my delight, the chef’s recommendation
was for a very nice sounding pie – which fortunately they still had available
on the menu (so no need to get green with envy!) There it was – the Steak,
Stout, Baby Onion and Pancetta Pie! It pretty much had my name on it,
especially with the meatylicious content and a recommendation from the chef
themselves!
Steak, Stout, Baby Onion and Pancetta Pie (Ember Inns - Green Man)
Score: 5.75/7
RAS
(*Thanks
Andrew, Ben, Emj, Emma, Gemma & Josh – who by the way enjoyed most of his
Apple Crumble Pie at the same pub!)
Friday 13 July 2012
Open Pie Outrage!
I’m going to
cut to the chase here – I’ve had some pretty controversial pies in the past,
for various reasons, but this has got to be one of the most outrageous! I admit
– I could see it coming the moment I placed my order for an “open chicken pie”
from the Slug and Lettuce Pub... but that did not stop the jaw-dropping
controversy that shortly followed. They say a picture speaks a thousand words.
This picture asks just one... “WHY?!?!?!”
Yes, you
guessed it. The “open chicken pie” is basically a top crust pie without a
proper top crust! There’s a massive, gaping open hole in the lid. It‘s like
rubbing salt into the wounds, like stealing the last penny from a guy who’s
just given generously to charity, like removing the penultimate piece of pastry
from an already pastry-light pie... no, wait, it IS removing the penultimate
piece of pastry from an already pastry-light pie.
And why in the world would you want to do such a thing?! This is not the time or the place to discuss top crusts (plenty of previous reviews have already gone there), but it then beggars belief as to why you would remove pastry from a top crust pie?! Surely you should just forget the pastry all together and just serve it as it is – a glorified, sauce covered piece of chicken in a dish!
It’s at this point that I do have to admit, much to my obvious annoyance at the lack of pastry and initial thoughts over whether it was even a meal that could be classified as a pie in the first place, that the meal was actually very nice. Annoyingly nice, in fact! It shouldn’t have been so nice, considering it barely counts as a pie! But there you go, beggars cannot be choosers. The pastry was light, crisp and golden. The chicken sauce was delightful and the chicken pieces very filling. However what I would say is that the Slug and Lettuce Pub chain are really missing a trick here by not encasing their pie fully with pastry, as this could have ranked as a top 20 pie had they done so. But alas, this will forever be recorded as a “what might have been...” entry.
Note to self: when it says “open pie”, prepare to be outraged!
Open Chicken Pie (Slug and Lettuce, Birmingham)
Score: 5.15/7
continue reading "Open Pie Outrage!"
And why in the world would you want to do such a thing?! This is not the time or the place to discuss top crusts (plenty of previous reviews have already gone there), but it then beggars belief as to why you would remove pastry from a top crust pie?! Surely you should just forget the pastry all together and just serve it as it is – a glorified, sauce covered piece of chicken in a dish!
It’s at this point that I do have to admit, much to my obvious annoyance at the lack of pastry and initial thoughts over whether it was even a meal that could be classified as a pie in the first place, that the meal was actually very nice. Annoyingly nice, in fact! It shouldn’t have been so nice, considering it barely counts as a pie! But there you go, beggars cannot be choosers. The pastry was light, crisp and golden. The chicken sauce was delightful and the chicken pieces very filling. However what I would say is that the Slug and Lettuce Pub chain are really missing a trick here by not encasing their pie fully with pastry, as this could have ranked as a top 20 pie had they done so. But alas, this will forever be recorded as a “what might have been...” entry.
Note to self: when it says “open pie”, prepare to be outraged!
Open Chicken Pie (Slug and Lettuce, Birmingham)
Score: 5.15/7
RAS
Thursday 12 July 2012
15,000+ page views as the Pierateers hone in on 100thPieReview
15,000!!!
Yes, it cannot go unmarked that on 5th July the pie rating blog www.pierate.co.uk received its 15,000th page view, and continues to grow. (We were clearly so busy eating pies we sadly were a week late noticing it ourselves!) Spurred on by knowing they are so close to gaining their landmark 100th Pie Review (from here on in, know as #100thPieReview), the Pierateers are continuing to eat and review every pie they can get their gravy soaked hands on. And the business ideas are already flowing for the creation of pierate merchandise, with a new logo from the Pierateers set to be launched when the 100th Pie Review is done. Keep your eyes on the pies and be sure to come back soon to the World's most popular pie rating blog!
Are You... Local?
It is great to see that these days people are buying more local food. We have become conscious of the ridiculous journeys our food sometimes makes to the supermarkets. For example the story of Scottish chicken being taken on a 1,000 mile round trip to be processed. This is a case of the environmental costs being ignored and is not sustainable in a world where we have limited resources and a growing population. There is also the important fact that local food tends to be fresher and taste better! Local Roots in High Wycombe specialises in satisfying this taste for food and drink where a trip to the country of origin wouldn't require a passport.
I got hold of a Fruity Pork pie for £3 from their store which can be sold hot or cold. I was skeptical about such a flavour at first because I don't tend to like mixing sweet and savory food. However I was caught off guard by a completely unexpected flavour sensation! I would describe it more as a Spicy Pork pie. It had flavours that reminded me of a mince pie. There was a definite aniseed type flavour which might have been fennel. It was hard to identify what the other spices might have been. In addition there was onion to keep the pork company. This might all sound a bit strange but it just about worked as there was as much spice as there could be without it being too overpowering. The pork was tender and the pastry was melt in the mouth. There was not much gravy but the pie was moist enough without it. It is great to see such originality in this twist to a winning formula. Having said that, I wouldn't put it on my 'desert island pies' list as it goes so close to being overwhelming in its intensity. But as a Pierateer, although eating lots of pies is always a pleasure, it is too often a case of 'pie by numbers' so this pie was a breath of fresh air and the experience is recommended.
Fruity Pork (Local Roots - HP13 6LJ)
4.65/7
SJL
continue reading "Are You... Local?"
I got hold of a Fruity Pork pie for £3 from their store which can be sold hot or cold. I was skeptical about such a flavour at first because I don't tend to like mixing sweet and savory food. However I was caught off guard by a completely unexpected flavour sensation! I would describe it more as a Spicy Pork pie. It had flavours that reminded me of a mince pie. There was a definite aniseed type flavour which might have been fennel. It was hard to identify what the other spices might have been. In addition there was onion to keep the pork company. This might all sound a bit strange but it just about worked as there was as much spice as there could be without it being too overpowering. The pork was tender and the pastry was melt in the mouth. There was not much gravy but the pie was moist enough without it. It is great to see such originality in this twist to a winning formula. Having said that, I wouldn't put it on my 'desert island pies' list as it goes so close to being overwhelming in its intensity. But as a Pierateer, although eating lots of pies is always a pleasure, it is too often a case of 'pie by numbers' so this pie was a breath of fresh air and the experience is recommended.
Fruity Pork (Local Roots - HP13 6LJ)
4.65/7
SJL
Pierate is a pie review website charting a course to find the ultimate pie. For all the pies we have reviewed have a look at our Pie Rankings or find pies of a particular flavour under Pies: Categorised.
Make sure you Follow @pierateers
and let us know your thoughts!
|
Sunday 1 July 2012
Ginsters Pie is the Perfect Tonic
Ginsters - Chicken Pie Review
Welcome to another edition of the pierate blog. My name is Simon Pyeman and I have been asked to conduct a series of investigations into the group of pie bloggers who call themselves 'The Pierateers'. A mysterious bunch they can be difficult to track down. I have today discovered the South London residence of the Pierateer known as SJL. It is a slightly dodgy area to be honest. There were riots here last summer. Rumours abound the riot was caused by a local pie shortage.
Knocking on the door it appears no one is here. Fortunately the glass in the window is quite easy to break and I can put my hand through and open the catch from the inside....
Okay, so now we are inside SJL's flat, there is a smell of last night's pie in the air. There are many posters and pieces of art work on the walls, all of them pictures of pies. He has a pirate costume with the hat shaped like a pie, it is all exactly as I expected.
Now to the kitchen which is surely where you want to visit! The cupboards are as anticipated, plenty of different types of stock and some flour; important for making pies. There is an abundance of gravy, the vital sidekick, like Robin to the Pie's Batman. However, I am surprised to find ready rolled pastry in the fridge. I would have thought SJL would have perfected the art of pastry making. Next I check the recycling for any discarded pie boxes. To my shock, I find not gourmet pies but a Ginsters Chicken pie box. Just as I am mulling over this disappointing find in walks SJL.
“What the flip is going on here??? Have you broken into my flat? Why are you going through my bins? I'm calling the police.”
“Please sir, don't do that, I was merely passing by and noticed this flat had been broken into. As it was open I thought I had best guard it and make sure that no one comes in. It has actually taken quite a bit of time and I was supposed to go and look after a sickly puppy.”
“Oh gosh, I am sorry for being accusational, thank you so much. Damn, I hope my computer hasn't been stolen.”
“No, nothing has been stolen. I suppose you would be worried about the computer given that you have to review so many pies on pierate.co.uk.”
“How.... how do you know that?”
“Oh well I couldn't help notice when looking through your post that your initials are SJL, the same as one of the pierateers. Also I recognise your chin from some of the photos on the blog.”
“Oh... okay, wow, I didn't realise that my chin is so distinctive!”
“Yes.... yes, it is, but now I see it is eclipsed by your nose. Can I ask why you don't make your own pastry? I was going through your fridge because I was feeling faint from hunger after looking after your flat for so long. I then see Tesco's own ready ready rolled puff pastry. Is it too hard to even roll the pastry yourself?”
“I'm so so sorry to have been a disappointment.... I just find it hard to even roll the puff pastry, I always get the temperature wrong and it goes sticky. I am sometimes lazy. I have let myself down I know...”
“That is not the worst, I was going through your bin and found a Ginsters Chicken Pie box. I was expecting something a bit more upmarket from a Pierateer.”
“Hey, that comment is not fair, we need to review all sorts of pies otherwise we might miss out a real bargain. Plus, I was quite impressed by the Ginsters Chicken pie, I would give it about 4.43. It was also on offer at just £2.79 for a family sized pie.”
“Intriguing, tell me more what you liked about this pie.”
“Admittedly the meat seemed quite processed but it wasn't at all chewy. There were ample amounts of a thick, peppery, creamy sauce which was great. The pastry was good and had a bit of crunch. Trust me, I didn't want to like it but I did. The condition wasn't great though, looked nothing like on the box."
“I saw the box said it can also be eaten cold which is unusual for a pie such as this. What are your feelings regarding this?”
“Well you would have to be pretty desperate to eat it cold but could be useful.... wait, why were you going through my bins and post anyway?”
“I am a private detective so naturally I was looking for clues.”
“In the bin? Who are you anyway? Can I get your details in case you need to be a witness or something to the break-in?”
“I'm afraid as a private detective I don't get on well with the police. Also, I must be going, I have medicine that the sickly puppy must receive as soon as possible. However I will leave you this piece of paper with my address on in case you need to contact me. Have a good day.”
“Okay... well thanks for staying... goodbye....” ............. “HEY, wait, come back this piece of paper just has my address written on it, hey.....” (Simon is nowhere to be seen) “Why did he have my address written down anyway?”
Chicken (Ginsters)
4.43/7
SJL
continue reading "Ginsters Pie is the Perfect Tonic"
Welcome to another edition of the pierate blog. My name is Simon Pyeman and I have been asked to conduct a series of investigations into the group of pie bloggers who call themselves 'The Pierateers'. A mysterious bunch they can be difficult to track down. I have today discovered the South London residence of the Pierateer known as SJL. It is a slightly dodgy area to be honest. There were riots here last summer. Rumours abound the riot was caused by a local pie shortage.
Knocking on the door it appears no one is here. Fortunately the glass in the window is quite easy to break and I can put my hand through and open the catch from the inside....
Okay, so now we are inside SJL's flat, there is a smell of last night's pie in the air. There are many posters and pieces of art work on the walls, all of them pictures of pies. He has a pirate costume with the hat shaped like a pie, it is all exactly as I expected.
Now to the kitchen which is surely where you want to visit! The cupboards are as anticipated, plenty of different types of stock and some flour; important for making pies. There is an abundance of gravy, the vital sidekick, like Robin to the Pie's Batman. However, I am surprised to find ready rolled pastry in the fridge. I would have thought SJL would have perfected the art of pastry making. Next I check the recycling for any discarded pie boxes. To my shock, I find not gourmet pies but a Ginsters Chicken pie box. Just as I am mulling over this disappointing find in walks SJL.
“What the flip is going on here??? Have you broken into my flat? Why are you going through my bins? I'm calling the police.”
“Please sir, don't do that, I was merely passing by and noticed this flat had been broken into. As it was open I thought I had best guard it and make sure that no one comes in. It has actually taken quite a bit of time and I was supposed to go and look after a sickly puppy.”
“Oh gosh, I am sorry for being accusational, thank you so much. Damn, I hope my computer hasn't been stolen.”
“No, nothing has been stolen. I suppose you would be worried about the computer given that you have to review so many pies on pierate.co.uk.”
“How.... how do you know that?”
“Oh well I couldn't help notice when looking through your post that your initials are SJL, the same as one of the pierateers. Also I recognise your chin from some of the photos on the blog.”
“Oh... okay, wow, I didn't realise that my chin is so distinctive!”
“Yes.... yes, it is, but now I see it is eclipsed by your nose. Can I ask why you don't make your own pastry? I was going through your fridge because I was feeling faint from hunger after looking after your flat for so long. I then see Tesco's own ready ready rolled puff pastry. Is it too hard to even roll the pastry yourself?”
“I'm so so sorry to have been a disappointment.... I just find it hard to even roll the puff pastry, I always get the temperature wrong and it goes sticky. I am sometimes lazy. I have let myself down I know...”
“That is not the worst, I was going through your bin and found a Ginsters Chicken Pie box. I was expecting something a bit more upmarket from a Pierateer.”
“Hey, that comment is not fair, we need to review all sorts of pies otherwise we might miss out a real bargain. Plus, I was quite impressed by the Ginsters Chicken pie, I would give it about 4.43. It was also on offer at just £2.79 for a family sized pie.”
“Intriguing, tell me more what you liked about this pie.”
“Admittedly the meat seemed quite processed but it wasn't at all chewy. There were ample amounts of a thick, peppery, creamy sauce which was great. The pastry was good and had a bit of crunch. Trust me, I didn't want to like it but I did. The condition wasn't great though, looked nothing like on the box."
“I saw the box said it can also be eaten cold which is unusual for a pie such as this. What are your feelings regarding this?”
“Well you would have to be pretty desperate to eat it cold but could be useful.... wait, why were you going through my bins and post anyway?”
“I am a private detective so naturally I was looking for clues.”
“In the bin? Who are you anyway? Can I get your details in case you need to be a witness or something to the break-in?”
“I'm afraid as a private detective I don't get on well with the police. Also, I must be going, I have medicine that the sickly puppy must receive as soon as possible. However I will leave you this piece of paper with my address on in case you need to contact me. Have a good day.”
“Okay... well thanks for staying... goodbye....” ............. “HEY, wait, come back this piece of paper just has my address written on it, hey.....” (Simon is nowhere to be seen) “Why did he have my address written down anyway?”
Chicken (Ginsters)
4.43/7
SJL
See where this pie ended up in the Pierate Pie Rankings or find other pies of a similar flavour.
Make sure you Follow @pierateers
and let us know your thoughts!
|
Monday 18 June 2012
(Peppa) Piggy in the Park
Before I start, let me just clarify that no Peppa Pigs were harmed in
the making of this pie. And also that Peppa Pig didn’t eat all the pies, as I
fortunately got my hands on one before we met her.
continue reading "(Peppa) Piggy in the Park"
Peppa Pig and Evie |
So with the disclaimers over, what about the pie itself?! Well it’s
time for a Bramley Apple overload, as those pie makers at ASDA have picked up the
Bramley bug and made some delicious tea time treats! And what better treat than
to crack out a six-pack in the park with your mates? So with hand model Ad
kindly showing off the colourful green box, it’s time to be a little piggy and
wallow in the apple-y goodness...
Firstly, while there were definite small air pockets in the pie I had,
it was pretty well packed and the pies were in good condition. The ASDA Bramley Apple pieces and apple filling were very nice and supported the pastry nicely. The
short crust pastry was crisp and held the apple contents well too. While it’s
not the deluxe version of the apple pie, it’s certainly no cheap smartprice
version either and is a very good tasting pie. Well worth carrying a six pack
in your picnic hamper (especially if you might bump into a little piggy in the
park!*)
Asda Bramley
Apple Pies
Score: 5.4/7
RAS
(*I’m not
talking about myself in the third person there, by the way!)
Sunday 17 June 2012
The Great British Bramley by Tesco
Tesco Bramley Apple Pie Review
When a type of apple has its own website, you know you’re branching out in the right direction. So while I’ve been rooting around, leaving nothing to chance, I’ve found a lot of information about the contents of our latest pie review. Don’t worry - I’ve not gone barking mad, but I've got to the core of the issue, and yes, you’ve probably twigged by now: I’m talking about the humble Bramley Apple.
continue reading "The Great British Bramley by Tesco"
When a type of apple has its own website, you know you’re branching out in the right direction. So while I’ve been rooting around, leaving nothing to chance, I’ve found a lot of information about the contents of our latest pie review. Don’t worry - I’ve not gone barking mad, but I've got to the core of the issue, and yes, you’ve probably twigged by now: I’m talking about the humble Bramley Apple.
And what an
apple it is! A mainstay in many a great apple pie, the Bramley Apple (circa 1809)
has become firmly rooted as a fan’s favourite in the sweet pie world. So it’s
great to see Tesco getting on board with their Tesco Bramley Apple Pie! And as
it says on the box, it really does contain juicy chunks of Bramley apple in a delicious
sweet apple sauce. I had my pie with evaporated milk and it was very nice. The short
crust pastry was lovely and crunchy and the apple sauce was particularly good.
While not blown away, it was a very reasonable pie and I would certainly
commend it. Good work, Bramley!
Tesco
Bramley Apple
Score: 4.8/7
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