National Pie Week

Yes it was National Pie week – last week.  And you didn’t know?  Shame on you!

I didn’t either. But we were away in Devon for the weekend and visited one of our favourite pubs – The Ring O’ Bells in Chagford, on Dartmoor.

It really is a nice place (written before – they do have lunch sized portions as well as large – which suits us fine).

The deal was £10 for a Pie and a Pint – well, we couldn’t resist.  Three were on offer: Beef and Ale; Chicken and Leek; and venison with Juniper and cranberry.  naturally, as I have written this last, you know which one we had.

Hot lard pastry isn’t the easiest thing to make.  When myOld Bull & Bush mate Julian had a go recently, and he managed to get covered in an explosion of flour as he poured the hot fat in.  Unpleasant and a little scary!  But chef at the pub had done wonders as he usually seems to.  Good mash, splendid root veg and cabbage, and a stand alone pie.  Presented with a quarter cut out and pulled back to reveal the wonderful concoction within.

In best “pie” tradition, the gravy was very thin- ‘pie and liquor’  as it was called in London.

The problem with profit in a pub that feeds you so well is that we didn’t have room for pudding.  As ever though, it guarantees our return, sooner rather than later.

I am already looking forward to National Pie week 2014!