Mr Persuader

 

Mr Persuader, a photo by Idreamofpies on Flickr.

Saturday night at Wrexham Central Station and I am persuaded that Mr Johnny Marr is brilliant. A sold out Central Station saw Mr Marr take to the stage preceded by the Persuaders Theme (Top Tune). 

A great gig, even with a slightly dodgy sound. Which may have been due to where we were standing, left of stage and close to speakers. However it didn't matter, he was great and can't recommend him highly enough. He played a lot of his latest album release, "The Messenger" with plenty enough to like about it and chucked in 5/6 Smiths tunes, an electronic song and a rousing version of the Crickets " I Fought the Law".

"How Soon Is Now" was a highlight of the night for me. Low point was when the Photo Fascists (Security) stopped me taking piccies although prior permission had been sought and given from the venue !!!!

Hollands Steak & Stilton New FAVOURITE Pie !

Hollands Pie Heaven, Albert Square Chop House

The Pie tribe enjoyed a great evening at the recent "Hollands Pies and Ale tasting" in Manchester. Hosting the evening was the The Albert Square Chop House. Compere for the evening was fascinating Mr Tom Bridges (Pie Master) who was on fine form introducing the various Pies on offer with enthusiasm and keen insightful knowledge.

A number of pies were available with a suggested ale to go with each. Of great interest were some new pies, due to go on sale we believe in 2014, in particular the Hunters Chicken pie and the Steak & Stilton, part of the new Pub classics range. Below is our reviewers morsel by morsel account of each!!!

Chicken + Gravy – part of 2 pack frozen range available from Sept 2013 in Tesco nationwide,  microwave in 3 mins. Generous portions of chicken not just stingy bits in tons of gravy. Tastes well nice

 

Hunters chicken pie – pub classics for 2014. Bacon, pepper, mushrooms, bbq sauce, cheese, chicken breast and thigh. Cheese is a good addition and makes veg and sauce taste better. Chicken got a bit lost in stronger flavours but not a bad pie.

Peppered Steak – to launch 2014, hard to do wrong and one they always do well. New addition of peppercorns to top are brilliant adds a good extra kick. Sauce remains tasty and creamy as always, nice crispy pastry.

Potato and Meat bestseller – not a new one but cracking! P+M not my favourite type of pie but still a good pie, apparently uses Wilja and Esitma taters.

Cheese and onion – again not a new one, but there because who doesn’t like cheese and onion? Remains excellent.

Steak and Stilton – part of new pub classics range to be launched in 2014.  Best pie ever!! Strong stilton flavour but not too overpowering. can still taste the steak and good gravy sauce. MY NEW FAVOURITE PIE 

This is a tremendous compliment given the number of pies we try !!!!! We have in the past enjoyed a Steak/Stilton combination in a pie from a number of artisan pie makers with success. But this is the best we've ever tasted from one of the big boys. We can't wait to get our chops on more.

Many thanks to all the staff on the night from Hollands Pies who made us feel very welcome and supplied us with such tasty Pie.

Le Pie

Looking to Vezelay, Burgundy

Big thanks to the Shed tribe who invited us to their home in Burgundy this August. We had the best of times , even though the Pie count was low, there was plethora of delicious morsels to occupy our taste buds including cheeses, bread, sausages, brioche with scratchings, iced tea peche and CAKES !!!!

The weather was very kind to us and allowed us to have long relaxing days doing whatever we liked till late in the evening. A small matter of the brakes, on the car, lost us a day but no matter as driving around sorting it out was fine, with such a beautiful backdrop and relaxing weather.

The usual activities sightseeing, exploring, canoeing (!!!!!!), wild cat feeding, eating, chatting, laughing, walking, lounging, reading, shopping, swimming, frisbee, drinking,  etc etc were indulged. But the highlight of the holiday, for the Pieman, was finding a cache of Asterix figures at a great price, at a boiling hot brocante when it was least expected.