Mad O'Rourke's Pie Factory

Whilst in the Black Country travelling around we went past that bastion of Pie making "Mad O'Rourke's Pie Factory" in Tipton. Unfortunately on this trip we were unable to sample their wares, which currently include..

Wham Bam, Thank You Lamb Pie

Hen Pecked Pie

Bob Marley Pie

Kebab Pie (Have you tried one sober?!)

Posh 'n' Becks Pie

and the 4lb Desperate Dan Cow Pie

Also noticed whilst passing they have accommodation available for the serious Pie eater to rest up between meals. Their refreshingly honest sign refers to their rooms as "Nearly" en-suite !!! Can't wait to try their Pies.

Tribal Gathering

Following from our travels down south the Pie tribe went down to the sunny Black Country to meet up with the Viking and Tipton tribes for the first time in a while. First though we stopped off for a visit to see "Doris" the Cadbury cow in Bournville. Much rejoicing from the female members of the Pie Tribe!

Saturday evening saw a fanatstic tribal feast combining Indian and chinese foods. Chat, liquid refreshment, guitar playing, old photos (!!!!) and laughter were the order of the evening. What an excellent time.

Sunday saw the gathering head en masse to the Country & Western festival in Stourport. The Dad Police unfortunately stepped in to ensure that certain members of our party did not join in the massed line dancing taking place.

Everybody chilled with the sun breaking through and the rain staying off long enough to enjoy the fair, town, river, canals, festival, ice cream, floral gums, walking, go karts, pinball, singing, dancing (nearly) ....... and each others company.

Many thanks to our hosts the Tipton Tribe and can't wait to do it again.
PS. P Villa were lucky

Duck Pasty

Whilst staying on Exmoor we decided one day to sample a bit of local life by going to The Exford Show. A miniature sort of County show with show jumping, Sheep shows, Dog shows, Antler competitions (?), various displays and country activities including the fascinating and hugely comical terrier racing. Held up on the top of the moor the day proved to be time well spent and the sun was shining.

One tent in particularly caught the eye of the Pieman, the local Produce and craft marquee. Making a bee-line to a vast collection of foods to try and purchase. One particularly stand drew us near and we found a Duck Pasty, a new one for us. Not cheap at £3.50 a pop but in hindsight well worth a punt. Very rich and with quite a bit of potato in it, it was very satisfying nonetheless feeding 2 of us because it was big and packed. Definitely worthy of an 8/10.

Exmoor Pasty

From Kent the Pie tribe moved across the country to a stay on Exmoor on the Devon/Somerset border. On a trip out one rainy day we headed to Dunster Castle a national trust property near Minehead. It was a pretty grim day but started to pick up when we walked down to the nearby village finding bookshops, floral gums and pasty.

The excellent Dunster Village Shop & Deli, on the High Street, serves up an Exmoor Pasty. Which seemed to consist of minced beef, oregano and spuds, carrot swede, onion and other things?? It was pretty good and filling, we would give it 8/10. Leaving Dunster with pasty consumed the sun came out and the day just seemed better.

Square Pork Pie

Early August saw the Pie Tribe to Kent for a holiday and the search of Pie. An excellent week was kicked off by a visit to brother Kenny in sunny Bromley for a swim and excellent barbecue.Various trips around the county kept us busy and amused. Particularly interesting and worthwhile was our trip to Chartwell (Winston Churchills home) which led us on to the lovely Tonbridge Wells for walks, books and Pie.An otherwise damp day just kept getting better and better.

Well noticed by the younger members of the Pie Tribe was  the "Peter Speight" delicatessen in Chapel Place serving an array of worthwhile tasty looking pastries. We chose their own square Pork Pie. The owner seemed a little indignant when asked if they made them themselves !! A lot don't. As to the pie itself it was very good, a little on the dry side but still very edible - 7/10. The shop would be well worth a visit.