Record-breaking 976 entries in British Pie Awards
Judges from across the world, including the US and Japan, will cast their expert eyes over 23 different classes.
Judges at the world-famous British Pie Awards have their work cut out this year with a record-breaking 976 entries, including one made with kangaroo meat.
Returning to its traditional March timing after the Covid pandemic saw last year’s competition moved to September, 151 judges were running an expert eye over 23 different classes of hot and cold savoury and dessert pies and pasties.
The highly competitive contest, which plays out over three days, is again taking place at St Mary’s Church in the home of the pork pie, Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire.
His words also remembered those in the world at the moment who are without food, with special reference to those in Ukraine.
“We’ve got, is it 976 pies?
“If not, we’ll be here until midnight,” he said, before adding: “Just enjoy yourselves.”
Mr Woodhead, who has been judging chairman for four years, said: “What we’re trying to do is improve overall qualities of pies in the United Kingdom – it’s all about improvement.”
The competition has been growing in popularity and profile, since launching in 2009, with this year’s farthest pie-maker coming from Lochinver – more than nine hours’ drive away from Melton.
Another first-time entrant, Murray Lauchlan, a seventh-generation butcher, of David Comrie & Son in Comrie, Perthshire, travelled more than six hours to “come and see what it’s all about”.
Describing the atmosphere as “amazing”, Mr Lauchlan said he was pleasantly “surprised” at the sheer number of entries, though he said that, since Covid, pies have generally become more popular.
“For independent businesses like us, people weren’t going to the supermarket, they were coming to us, and that has carried on,” he said.
He added: “They’re realising the benefit of buying fresh produce, and the British Pie Awards highlight what local independent delis, butchers and bakers are doing.”
But other varieties include spiced miso beef short ribs and sour cherry; a crab, potato and chives pasty; a Christmas dinner pie – complete with turkey, stuffing and all the trimmings; and a creamy cashew, pea and mushroom pie.
Matthew O’Callaghan, chairman of the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie Association and host of the British Pie Awards, said: “Fortunately we have survived Covid very well indeed.
“In fact pie-makers, sponsors and judges have come back with a bang – this is a record (number of entries) for the British Pie Awards.”
Mr O’Callaghan added that he believes pies are the UK’s “contribution to international cuisine.”
