British Pie Week (2-8 March 2009)

Three weeks ago we had National Chip Week. Now we have British Pie Week. As with fish and chips, the Brits are crazy about their pies, especially savory meat pies. Steak and kidney pies, pork pies (served cold), and Cornish pasties are some of the more popular ones. For dinner last night we tucked into a local-made pie I bought at a Hertford stall over Christmas called a Fidget Pie, made with ham, potatoes and apples. It was just okay. I much prefer British pies that are topped with mashed potatoes instead, such as cottage pie (made with beef), shepherd's pie (lamb) or fish pie.

You also have a huge variety of sweet pies over here, apple pie probably being one of the more popular ones. And let's not forget the mince pie, made with spiced chopped fruit, same as you get in America. Mince pies are very big here at Christmas time. Historically they were actually made with real minced meats. And even today in the UK, hamburger meat or ground beef is called minced meat (or "mince" for short). You can even buy it already cooked in a can. Yuk.

Anyway, we've got the other half of the Fidget Pie to look forward to for tonight's dinner. Then I think I'll forgo that one again in favor of Paul's cottage pie, the best in the world (and I think my mom would agree).