Topping off British Pie Week with a pork pie?

Toppings Dinky Pork Pie Reviews

This British Pie Week we got a huge delivery of pies from Toppings Pies - over 6kg worth of pie (and some stray quiches and pasties!) - and included in them where a new range of Dinky Topped Pork Pies that are proving to be popular. So popular in fact that they are being launched in Selfridges, Manchester this morning!

So what's in the range and how do they rate? The Dinky Pork Pie range includes Cranberry, Pickle and Wensleydale Cheese, Stilton, Caramelised Red Onion and Normandy Chutney. I think it's important to note that this range of pies is quite a niche product, as it contains a number of toppings in place of the lid of a traditional pork pie that would cause mixed reactions in the kitchen. I certainly noticed that, with certain pies in the range being a lot more popular than others due to the nature of the topping. The Caramelised Red Onion proved the most popular from the selection below, while the Cranberry topped pork pie was considered a bit too sweet by many. I guess it really is horses for courses when you start providing alternative toppings to your pies.

Toppings Dinky Pork Pies Review

We on the Pierate Ship do consider only a fully encased pie to be a proper pie, however we do understand in reality more and more places are offering other forms of pie, either bottom-less in the case of a top-crust or lid-less in the case of these Dinky Pork Pies. Due to the niche flavours used, not all of which are to my personal liking I must admit, I have rated the Stilton Topped Pork Pie and would then advise you to select the topping you personally prefer when purchasing, which can be done online as well as in some shops, at a very reasonable RRP of £1.50 for a 120g pork pie.

The pastry was quite crisp, holding together well when cut into pieces. It was the classic hot water pastry crust done well. The pies were quite small but packed a punch with their original toppings. While I (and a few other people I shared them with) felt there could have been a little more pork to counter the strong flavours of the toppings, the quality of the pork meat was obvious and the toppings certainly added flavour to the pie. The capacity was very strong, with minimal jelly and a quality tasting meat content. While they lose some marks for not being fully encased they still score well.

Toppings Dinky Pork Pie Range
Score: 5/7
[Colour 5.5, Capacity 4.5, Consistency 5, Condition 4.5, Chewiness 5, Cheapness 5.5, Content 5, Total: 5/7]
RAS