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.

Plot 109a

The Pie Tribe have acquired an Allotment Plot, a 1/2 plot to be precise. Over the Bank Holiday despite the weather work started on the overgrown jungle that is Plot 109a!

So far 40+ house bricks, 2 Sandstone Cornerstones, a pair of socks, a pair of trainers, a jumper, several bits of metal, money box ( Nothing in it!), rocks, weeds ........ have been unearthed. progress is slow but strangely rewarding?

Clannad/Sephira

Mr & Mrs Pieman had an outing together to see Clannad in concert at the Philharmonic in Liverpool. Although a bit of a dash we made it just in time to take our seats not knowing there was a support the ethereal Sephira also from Ireland. There were ok, not brilliant.

Unfortunately the Pieman's ears are causing problems and appreciation of fine music or bad music for that matter is quite difficult at the moment. This may be due to a distinct lack of Pie in the Pieman's diet of recent weeks however medical opinion currently disagrees.


The highlight of the evening though was seeing friends Colin and Gilly who had also travelled to see the celtic folkies in action. The Philharmonic was excellent as ever and is becoming a definite favourite venue. Clannad were at the end of a short UK tour and played for nearly two hours with a mix of well known stuff and not so known. Excellent 10 strong band with everybody contributing two more ways either vocally or instrumentally.

Penalty Woe

The Pieman travelled to Goodison in high spirits ( and full of Man flu) to see the return leg of the mighty blues european adventure. The toffeemen were excellent and absolutely battered the Italians for nearly the whole match.

A superb goal by Arteta levelled the tie 2-2, eventually going to extra time and then the dreaded penaties. A great evening spoilt by the luck of penaties. The atmosphere was tremendous but not helped by the Fiorentina fans who were useless compared to the SK Brann fans from the previous round.

Many thanks to the Dragonslayer for securing tickets.

Probably the Best Fans Ever

The Dragonslayer and Pieman headed for Goodison Park this week to see the second leg of Everton's latest European adventure. The opposition was Norwegian champions SK Brann from Bergen.

With a 2-0 lead from the first leg the Toffees were in a commanding position although they started quite tentatively with lots of perspiration but little inspiration. Eventually though the breakthrough came with a Yak goal. By half time it was 3-0. A couple of changes after the break did nothing to stop a goal feast for the Yak in particular with the game ending 6-1 and 8-1 on aggregate. However The Pieman will always remember the game for the away supporters from SK Brann.

They were absolutely Brilliant. Noisy, funny, and determined to enjoy themselves come what may. They had a vast repertoire of songs, chants and noises. Much to our shame they were Bi lingual with a heavy dose of English language songs. They had researched us and came up with some Liverpool songs and a huge banner declaring "Just a little club from Kirkby", Cheeky .............

The second half was the one the funniest matches I have ever been to. The SK Brann fans were an entertainment in themselves. At the recent league Cup semi-final with twice as many supporters and a much closer match, Chelsea they were pathetic in comparison.

Bring on Fiorentina!!

Heaven On Earth

Taking advantage of the recent excellent weather and half term the Pie Tribe headed out to North Wales for the day. Heading first for the Welsh National Slate Museum at Llanberis.

Situated next to the lake and close to Dinorwig Power Station the Museum is free to enter with plenty to do and on this occasion with the added bonus of a model railway exhibition taking place also free to wander round.

After this it was off up the Llanberis Pass to Pen-y-Pass and turn down to Nantgwynant stopping briefly to enjoy the view from the car Park over Llyn Gwynant, Snowdon and the New Cafe!

From here we made our way down to Beddgelert (The Most Beautiful Place in the world?) which was pleasantly quiet considering the glorious weather. With the impending completion of the railway line Beddgelert will be a lot busier. Ice cream, boot buying and strolling around was the order of the day with the time we had. No pies spotted but the thought of a simmering stew left on the go at home kept us going and we eventually headed back home through Betws-y-Coed.