One hundred days of pie: No.12 Dickinson & Morris Creamy Chicken Pie

2017-06-15T15:29:04+01:00July 26th, 2014|

dickinsonchickenWhoops! Nearly forgot to give you a pie. On Saturday of all days a man/woman needs a pie. 

Forgive me I’m currently in the final throes of proof reading and making more changes than a set of Parisian traffic lights. When the “Life of Pies” book finally goes to the printers sometime over the next week or so, you will be able to hear a noise which sounds suspiciously like a grown man weeping tears of […]

One hundred days of pie: No.11. Scouse Pie

2017-06-15T15:29:04+01:00July 23rd, 2014|

scouseThere is a strong movement out there residing in a number of quarters ranging from the British Pie Awards to my associates at Pie Rate regarding the classification of a pie.

Essentially, if it’s not fully encased it’s not a pie. If it only has a top crust or indeed no crust at all – looking at you here Cottage & Fish Pies – then it’s nothing more than a pie charlatan.

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One hundred days of pie: No.9 Walkers Fluted Pork Pie

2017-06-15T15:29:03+01:00July 22nd, 2014|

walkers1Did you know Walkers made pies before they made crisps? If so, you’ve probably also been blagging info off Wikipedia like me.

Originally a butcher in the 19th century famed for pies and sausages they started to use the surplus fat off the meat to make potato crisps during the war. Seventy years later ol’ Jug Ears get paid a small fortune to advertise said crisps on the telly.

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One hundred days of pie: No.8 The Rolling Pin

2017-06-15T15:29:03+01:00July 20th, 2014|

rollingpinWhen I hear the words Rolling Pin they always conjure up images of angry mother in laws stomping down the street waving one about in the air or a dragged up Les Dawson wearing a hairnet. There’s probably some deep rooted psychological issue behind this though I imagine.

The Rolling Pin is situated in the Newtown area of Wigan, not too far from the DW Stadium yet despite this I had never, ever sampled its wares […]

One hundred days of pie: No.6 The Crusty Cob

2017-06-15T15:29:03+01:00July 20th, 2014|

Crusty CobLIFE OF PIES IS NOW ON SALE

Oops sorry I missed a day yesterday, I was sorting out the 16 page photo section you see. In other developments, Mrs Life of Pies (a teacher) is doing a full and thorough final proof read of the book.

This is both good and bad. Good because she’s ripping it to pieces and sorting out all the grammar and punctuation. Bad because she’s ripping it to pieces and […]

One hundred days of pie: No.4 Greenhalghs Vindaloo Pie

2017-06-15T15:29:03+01:00July 13th, 2014|

vindalooOh Greenhalghs what have you done!! The fine Bolton baker actually took the time and trouble to tweet me last summer to make me aware of this fiery feast and now it appears that it’s back on the menu.

I had to walk to the station one Saturday morning to pick my car up and picked up one of these pies only for it to blow my socks off and kind of sort out my hangover. 

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One hundred days of Pie: No 3. Murdochs Macaroni Pie

2017-06-15T15:29:03+01:00July 13th, 2014|

murdochsTime to throw a controversial choice into the mix. Right at the start of the year I was introduced to the concept of the Macaroni Pie popular North of the Border. Lots of my Northerly twitter friends rave about these and they literally go like hot cakes (hot pies) at Pittodrie and many other football grounds North of the Border.

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One hundred days of pie: No.2 Deacons Game Pie

2017-06-15T15:29:03+01:00July 13th, 2014|

deacons1Good game! Good game! As a wig wearing light entertainment host might say. But what is good game. Indeed what is game? Why is it called game? It’s a bit of a silly name really isn’t it? 

We don’t call fish “match” or poultry “competition” do we?

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97 not out

2014-06-16T07:57:46+01:00June 16th, 2014|

Pie signThe significance of the number 97 has nothing to do with quantity of pie consumption I’m afraid it is a simple tally as to how many advance copies of Life of Pies have been already pre-ordered by some wonderful people.

As the May payday came and went, a significant number of generous people put their hands in the pockets to buy a personalised copy of Life of Pies putting me within touching distance of […]

I just want your expert pies and your…….K’s

2014-05-26T11:11:16+01:00May 26th, 2014|

brookcover2(With apologies to Prince*)

(*In the unlikely event he’s reading)

Now I’ve eaten a LOT of pies in the last two years or so, 400+ in fact but it’s the ones which escape my clutches that eat away at my insides the most. You’ve probably seen the cover of Life of Pies by now, splattered all over this website as it is. 

However, what you’ve not seen is the second choice cover. Indeed, it may end up being […]

And so it begins……

2014-05-11T13:37:16+01:00May 11th, 2014|

philippesThe following article appeared in the Wigan fanzine, The Mudhutter a few weeks ago and explains how the “Life of Pies” began and how the author hopes to use the latest craze of “Crowd Funding” to help fund the printing of the book.

Left: A steak pie from Philippes of Skipton

A new year always brings new aims and ambitions. By day I work as an accountant but in my spare time I co-edit this Wigan fanzine […]

Dawsons Craic

2014-05-03T09:58:10+01:00May 3rd, 2014|

dawsons1I think this is what I will have to call a post pie audit. As I am currently writing up my forthcoming book at a rate of knots, I am challenging my own rationale in some senses and forcing out some repeat visits.

Dawsons of Tyldesley is one such case in question. The pie I had there in June 2012 lived long in the memory: very much like a Galloways meat and potato pie but better. […]

Life of Pies – Book Update Nov 2013

2013-11-17T12:06:24+00:00November 17th, 2013|

pieprocession“Life of Pies: out Autumn 2013” he said. Yeah well about that.

I’ve faced a two pronged attack you see. On the negative side, I was working too hard to go and roam around the country to get pies and then I kind of lost my job so I wasn’t working at all. The travelling and eating pies bit was no longer a problem but affording them was. Now I’ve got a job again (and it’s […]

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