Chelski

On Thursday last the Pieman and Dragonslayer headed for Goodison Park for the Premier League fixture with Chelski.

The game ended in a 1-0 defeat for the mighty blues, to a goal which looked mightily dubious to all those seated in the Park End. Everton were below par lacking imagination and concentration. I knew it wasn't going to be our night when the Pienaar was taken off.

The Chelski team contains more players than any other to loathe. At least this time the Chelski fans made an effort due to free travel!

We did have the opportunity to try out a Hollands Steak and Kidney Pie just before the match in a local hostelry that was'nt on fire. Quite a while since the Pieman's last Hollands pie and this one was quite good. Many thanks to the dragonslayer for Pie and fast speed photography!

On The Buses

Last Sunday the Pie Tribe headed to St Helens and The North West Museum Of Road Transport where a special event day was dedicated to Chester Buses.

Pictured on the left is the Pie Tribe aboard a Former Chester Corporation Bus on one of the many free trips around St Helens they were doing on the day. The crunch of the gears in first/second, the whine of the engine and the lean of the bus around corners were all evocative memories for the elder members of the Pie Tribe.

The Museum itself was interesting enough even if only to learn that Y Front underpants went on sale in Britain in 1938 and that Alcoholics annonymous had their 1st meetings in 1935 the same year beer was sold in cans for the first time! Little time was spent in the search of Pies and apart from the Museum St Helens seemed to be shut.

Nanny Pie Wins Award

Deli-vert in Faulkner St, Hoole scoops top award! deli-vert won Gold at the Chester Food and Drink Festival in the local produce shop of the year category.

This is of course where Nanny Pie works and the Pie Tribe can personally testify to the excellent produce found here. Including Pies from Harvies Ltd, who supply the Steak, Brandy and Cracked Peppercorn Pie which the Pieman found last year and mentioned on July 14th, 2007 blog. Congratulations to all.

Award Winning Woe

Vaughan's Family Butchers of Penyffordd, the Monster Champion Pie Chompers Pie supplier of choice has been in the awards again winning top prize at the annual Innovation and Excellence Awards held by Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC).

Steven Vaughan, who scooped the top prize for the supreme sausage champion title for his traditional sausage recipe said: 'It's great to have won this award and I'm sure the traditional sausage will sell well after receiving this accolade. Let's hope it has a positive effect on the business, attracting old and new customers to the shop."

Also having won a Gold Medal award for his Scotch Pie, the Monster Champion Pie Chompers were keen to try it out. Limited stock meant the Pieman missed out on this opportunity. But he's reliably informed by two expert chompers that this Gold Medal award Winner was a turkey and not the feathered variety. However we presume this is a temporary blip in an otherwise excellent emporium of pies and meat products.

Plot 109a Update

Visits to the Pie estate have continuing and some serious digging has been taking place. The possibility of the plot being designated an Archeological dig cannot be denied.

However progress has continued to be slow due to the inordinate amount of material (non soil) currently being unearthed. This now includes now includes hundreds of bricks, several large pieces of Sandstone, various blocks of concrete, metal, castor wheels, toothbrush, razor, Belfast Sink !!!, 1/2 Pilkingtons factory, netting, socks (again), jumper, various tools.............

Square Pie at The Loaf

Members of the Monster Champion Pie Chompers found themselves in Birmingham last week looking for food and ended up in a hostelry in Hurst St called the Loaf.

Including the Pieman we were tempted by "Timothy Taylor's Steak & Ale Square Pie". A brick like offering infused with Landlord Pale Ale. Anticipation did not quite live up to reality and we were a little disappointed with this Pie. Suspicions were that it was pre cooked and superheated in a microwave. But any Pie is better than no Pie

Italian Pie

The Pie Tribe visted Southport over the easter Bank Holiday weekend. A place we hadn't been to, in quite a while. The weather was not very friendly and with a biting wind coming in off the sea, we avoided the front. Some interesting shops were found including an excellent bookshop.

Highlight of the day though had to be the meal we had in an Italian restaurant on the main High Street. The Pieman chose the Calzone which as the picture demonstrates shows a striking resemblance to a large Cornish Pasty! Delicious and very filling. I'm looking forward to the next one already.