Pie makers from all over the UK are now invited to enter the 2015 British Pie Awards, including – new this year – ‘Free From’ gluten category (see below).
The world-renowned awards, which will be held on 22 April 2015 in Melton Mowbray, are now in their seventh year and continue to grow in popularity – the 2014 awards saw a staggering 825 pies judged cross 19 classes. That’s a lot of pie!
The awards celebrate the nation’s love of pies – be it hot or cold, sweet or savoury. A few simple pie rules must be adhered to though: all pies must be totally encased in pastry with a closed top and fit into one of the pre-assigned classes. All pies, except the specialist class (see below), must also be commercially available.
Matthew O’Callaghan, Chairman of the British Pie Awards, enthuses: “Each year we launch the awards to encourage innovation in pies and we’re never disappointed. l can’t wait to see what the 2015 awards bring. In 2014 we had everything from salt beef and gherkins to pastrami and pickle and even a squirrel pie!”
‘Free From’ gluten not from taste
2015 is expected to break entry records as the classes expand to 20 classes to include a wider range of pies and one of the new classes is a ‘Free From’ class, only allowing entries from pies that are free from gluten.
Proper Pies Ltd, the producers that won in the Beef & Ale class in the 2014 awards, did so with their gluten free beef, Guinness and root vegetable pie. Gary Davies from the company says that developments in dietary needs have made the new free from class very timely: “We’re sensitive to the developments in the food market which is why we entered this pie last year,” he said. “This new class will hopefully encourage other manufacturers develop contemporary recipes that can be enjoyed by everyone.”
Speciality class: the Bride’s Pie
Each year the British Pie Awards have a speciality class that allows entrants to get creative with their baking. Although still judged to the same exacting standards, this class is all about the ‘showstopper’, with more decoration and freedom to choose filling and pastry type. It also does not have to be commercially available.
In 2014 the class was well received with ‘Pies Fit For A Hero’, which also allowed those from the Armed Forces to enter their creations.
In 2015, the speciality class will be the ‘Bride’s Pie’, harking back to days of old before the traditional cake we know today was wedding custom. Prior to the 17th Century, pie – sweet and savoury – rather than cake was served at most weddings and guests would often bring a pie as a gift. Furthermore, in a tradition predating the throwing of the bouquet, a glass ring was placed at the centre of the Bride’s Pie and the guest who got the piece with the ring was considered the next to be wed.
A class of their own
Alongside the ‘Free From’ and ‘Bride’s Pie’ classes, 18 further classes have opened to allow pie perfection in all its forms.
From various meat pies to vegetarian and dessert pies, through to pies sold commercially in pubs and football stadiums, there’s a class to suit every producer.
How to get involved
Entry to the awards is open now until 3 April 2015. It’s open to pie producers of all sizes, with a special rate for companies with fewer than 10 pie makers.
Full details of how to enter, as well as a full list of this year’s classes, can be found on the British Pie Awards website here
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