Star spangled pie
Friday, September 11th, 2009
Whilst pootling around the outer-city highways and byways, I decided to pay a visit Whatley Manor, one of my very favourite country house hotels in the vicinity, not least of all because it was one of the first I visited in my ‘official capacity’ as a food writer, many moons ago. Whatley chef (and double Michelin star holder) Martin Burge – best known for his elegantly flamboyant tasting menus – is not a name you’d normally associate with pies. But there he was at the bar, getting really excited about the skill involved in creating the perfect hot water crust and the depth of flavour captured within a slow-cooked steak and kidney melange. No, Martin isn’t embarking on a Blumenthal-style mission to change the face of Greggs the Bakers; he’s judging the Tetbury Pie Competition, an event at the heart of the Tetbury Food Festival itself, which runs from the 21st-27th September (www.tetburyfooddrinkfestival.com). If you’re an inspired pie pundit, all you have to do is create a pie large enough to serve 8 people, using local ingredients only. Send your recipe (not, please note, the actual pie) to Michael Bedford at The Chef’s Table, 49 Long Street, Tetbury, Gloucestershire GL8 8AA by September 22nd and be prepared to create your, erm, creation live in front of the judges – yup, pastry and all (there be no room for Jus-Rol™ here) – in a special ‘Competition Kitchen’ on Sunday 27th September. Rolling pins, flour and egg wash will be provided, and two lucky winners will win dinner for two at Whatley Manor.
This entry was posted on Friday, September 11th, 2009 at 12:05 pm and is filed under Eating Out Blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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