What's made you not grumpy but not smile either today?

[porta]

Stephensons butchers in Wortley Leeds made the best pork pies, unfortunately I’ve not lived anywhere near for 25yrs, so the wife gets ‘one’ (4 if she’s passing for work as a) treat!
I find many of the pies are bland, these days, like they can’t be arsed seasoning them properly and there’s little, or no, aspic

 

[bugsymike]

Stephensons butchers in Wortley Leeds made the best pork pies, unfortunately I’ve not lived anywhere near for 25yrs, so the wife gets ‘one’ (4 if she’s passing for work as a) treat!
I find many of the pies are bland, these days, like they can’t be arsed seasoning them properly and there’s little, or no, aspic

Same with pasties down our way, some do a good one, but not many.
I think you have to love food to make something tasty, also as the saying goes "Never trust a thin chef"

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Now your talking. There is a family butchers in Lechlade that does the best steak pies I have ever had. Unfortuately they were clsoed the last twice I have been past. I want to buy a pile for the freezeer and no longer have reason to go that way to pass, so a special trip is required. I used to go regularly when working. With a portion of good chips it was a really tasty supper on my way home from the southwest area. Made up for the fact it was supper time and I was still 170 miles from home.....

A good steak pie at new year is a big thing up here with folk queueing at the best butchers for their pies. Several weeks before the event, Mrs J's elderly auntie (now deceased) would order it from Saundersons Butchers at Toll Cross https://www.johnsaunderson.co.uk/ and we'd go and pick it up. The queue, if you hadn't pre-ordered in those days was way back down the pavement! My oldest boy in particular used to really look forward to it. By the way, we're talking a BIG pie here, enough to feed the whole family!

Although it was a great experience that butcher is actually not that easy for us to get to so now Mrs J makes her own doing the steak, always very well seasoned, in our slow cooker and the pastry cooked separately on a baking tray so it is nice and light (puff pastry) but then lays it on the top of the meat for a half hour before serving so the bottom layer gets nice and "soggy" with the gravy. I have to say it has to be tasted to know how good it is.

Having said all that though the best steak pies I ever tasted were the ones I ate at the wee back street cafe near the automotive college I attended in Chelsea London. I've mentioned this before on the forum so sorry if you've heard this before, but this was a very special experience. The pie was made in a big, deep, aluminium tray with the pastry on top. It was "on the go" all day long so the meat had almost completely "melted" into the gravy - which was very well seasoned - and the pastry was well soaked in the gravy and all the more delicious for it. The down side was that it gave me terrible intestinal gas! So, if I'd indulged in some pie for my lunch, I was relegated to the living room couch that night or until the gaseous reactions had died down. It was well worth it though!

 

[The Panda Nut]

A good steak pie at new year is a big thing up here with folk queueing at the best butchers for their pies. Several weeks before the event, Mrs J's elderly auntie (now deceased) would order it from Saundersons Butchers at Toll Cross https://www.johnsaunderson.co.uk/ and we'd go and pick it up. The queue, if you hadn't pre-ordered in those days was way back down the pavement! My oldest boy in particular used to really look forward to it. By the way, we're talking a BIG pie here, enough to feed the whole family!

Although it was a great experience that butcher is actually not that easy for us to get to so now Mrs J makes her own doing the steak, always very well seasoned, in our slow cooker and the pastry cooked separately on a baking tray so it is nice and light (puff pastry) but then lays it on the top of the meat for a half hour before serving so the bottom layer gets nice and "soggy" with the gravy. I have to say it has to be tasted to know how good it is.

Having said all that though the best steak pies I ever tasted were the ones I ate at the wee back street cafe near the automotive college I attended in Chelsea London. I've mentioned this before on the forum so sorry if you've heard this before, but this was a very special experience. The pie was made in a big, deep, aluminium tray with the pastry on top. It was "on the go" all day long so the meat had almost completely "melted" into the gravy - which was very well seasoned - and the pastry was well soaked in the gravy and all the more delicious for it. The down side was that it gave me terrible intestinal gas! So, if I'd indulged in some pie for my lunch, I was relegated to the living room couch that night or until the gaseous reactions had died down. It was well worth it though!

Im going to have to do some local research and see if Norfolk has a decent pie maker. All this pie thought has made my mouth water!

 

[porta]

A good steak pie at new year is a big thing up here with folk queueing at the best butchers for their pies. Several weeks before the event, Mrs J's elderly auntie (now deceased) would order it from Saundersons Butchers at Toll Cross https://www.johnsaunderson.co.uk/ and we'd go and pick it up. The queue, if you hadn't pre-ordered in those days was way back down the pavement! My oldest boy in particular used to really look forward to it. By the way, we're talking a BIG pie here, enough to feed the whole family!

Although it was a great experience that butcher is actually not that easy for us to get to so now Mrs J makes her own doing the steak, always very well seasoned, in our slow cooker and the pastry cooked separately on a baking tray so it is nice and light (puff pastry) but then lays it on the top of the meat for a half hour before serving so the bottom layer gets nice and "soggy" with the gravy. I have to say it has to be tasted to know how good it is.

Having said all that though the best steak pies I ever tasted were the ones I ate at the wee back street cafe near the automotive college I attended in Chelsea London. I've mentioned this before on the forum so sorry if you've heard this before, but this was a very special experience. The pie was made in a big, deep, aluminium tray with the pastry on top. It was "on the go" all day long so the meat had almost completely "melted" into the gravy - which was very well seasoned - and the pastry was well soaked in the gravy and all the more delicious for it. The down side was that it gave me terrible intestinal gas! So, if I'd indulged in some pie for my lunch, I was relegated to the living room couch that night or until the gaseous reactions had died down. It was well worth it though!

Davy st caff in holbeck Leeds was great for home cooked stuff…big trays of pies cut into huge squares…sadly, this is the last year it will be operating. The area is now arty farty offices with few garages, dealers, mills, factories and workshops and, although the food was still good, some of it was poncy and the increased costs, rent food, power, have killed another Leeds institution

 

[The Panda Nut]

Morrison's around Christmas time used to do a really good sort of game pie, but mostly chicken turkey and pork for around £2 a slice, one time they had an offer and I bought the whole pie for £11, kept it in the fridge for a treat, bit at a time.
No even on a good day I couldn't scoff the lot!
Though as an apprentice we used to park our cars in the local Pub car park, one morning they had a tray of pasties disappear and the other mechanics joking said it was me, as when I drove to our local bakery for the whole garages order of pasties and loaves etc. before our morning tea break I used to buy three pasties and have eaten two before getting back to the garage as I was a growing lad.

YEhhhh Get up esrly on boxing day and eat the lot before anyone else is up,

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Im going to have to do some local research and see if Norfolk has a decent pie maker. All this pie thought has made my mouth water!

Brays Cottage out at holt, they are pork pie specialists,

Bray's Cottage Pork Pies Home

Bray's Cottage Pork Pies. Fine, award-winning, artisan, pork pies made in Norfolk.

www.perfectpie.co.uk

We used to get them delivered by post during covid.

I think we got to know Sarah in around 2010/11 via Tim Kinnaird who owns macarons and more in the arcade as we all know Norfolk is a bit incestuous and Tim taught my wife when she was still at medical school, my best friend from school taught his kids, this was before he got into the final of master chef and quit being a Dr. We got to know all the best people in the area for various specialist foods.

 

[portland_bill]

Now your talking. There is a family butchers in Lechlade that does the best steak pies I have ever had. Unfortuately they were closed the last twice I have been past. I want to buy a pile for the freezeer and no longer have reason to go that way to pass, so a special trip is required. I used to go regularly when working. With a portion of good chips it was a really tasty supper on my way home from the southwest area. Made up for the fact it was supper time and I was still 170 miles from home.....

Thanks for the reminder. I think you've mentioned them before, and despite them being only 6 miles from me, I keep forgetting to go have a look. Passed by hundreds of times in the last 37 years. About time I stopped.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

The smile is because I've managed, at last, to have a conversation with the owner of the little yellow Seichento I frequently see parked far and wide around our area when I'm out and about walking. The Lady who owns it was washing it when I was homeward bound on one of my walks a couple of days ago. I've spoken, very briefly, with her a couple of months ago - a lady only slightly younger than me - but she was in a hurry so only a few words were exchanged. On this occasion she was very chatty and I started off by congratulating her on the condition of the car. It's not pristine but has no obvious signs of abuse or rust and was looking good after it's wash. I'd forgotten that I'd recommended Kenny's Fiat garage to her last time we talked and she was very complimentary about a recent visit she'd made to them and the fact that they'd stored the car free after the work and until she'd returned from a few days away on holiday. So more good feedback about Kenny and his customer care.

Now the grumpy bit. I was wondering why she seldom parks the car in the street outside her house and she explained that someone is causing damage to it whenever she parks it there. It started with black marks, maybe with a wax crayon? being drawn down the doors and front wings and has escalated of late to two instances of dents being caused to the O/S/F wing and driver's door, like someone has punched it. She's absolutely convinced it's deliberate because if she parks the car a few streets away it is never marked. She's no idea who is responsible as it doesn't happen every time she parks it there although she's tried staying up to watch. Then, last week I believe, she realised a big black SUV - Like a Range Rover she said - with blacked out windows, seemed to be following her. She turned down a side road and it followed her. Then she went back onto the main road and it followed her. Well, she was near where her daughter lives. (this is a small dead end street) so she dived into the street and was lucky enough to find a space to park in. The SUV pulled up beside her. By now she was feeling very worried indeed of course and it would be easy to suggest several more sensible courses of action - hindsight is a wonderful thing - She was about to make a run for her daughter's front door when someone got out of the SUV and came round to her driver door. She said he looked and talked like GRU from Despicable Me if you know the film? He said "I want your car". She was quite frightened by now and didn't reply. He repeated "I want your car" She gathered herself together and said "well, it's not for sale" or something similar. He then gave some garbled story about owning one when he lived in Poland and wanting another one. At that he pulled a wad of cash out of his pocket and said "I give you £800 now for it". She ran into her daughter's house and the SUV drove off. Not surprisingly she's now wondering what it was all about and feels anxious something more sinister is going to happen. She's reported the incident to the police but they say they can do nothing as no offence was committed.

I told her It's probably just a chap who's made good, now has some money and wants to "relive" his youth. But who knows. I'm keeping an eye out for both the wee yellow car and the big black SUV when I'm out and about, which I am most days. I've no intention of physically intervening if I see anything "dodgy" going on but will record anything of interest and hand it on to her.

 

[PuntoHowTo]

@Pugglt Auld Jock long post so not going to quote you.

Sounds like she could probably do with a dash cam.

Thinking about black marks, like a crayon? I remember as a kid scuffing my new school shoes along the polished floors of the school corridors and leaving black marks, could it be something as stupid as kids kicking at the car as they walk past either on there way to or home from school and with black soles leaving black marks on the car?

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

@Pugglt Auld Jock long post so not going to quote you.

Sounds like she could probably do with a dash cam.

Thinking about black marks, like a crayon? I remember as a kid scuffing my new school shoes along the polished floors of the school corridors and leaving black marks, could it be something as stupid as kids kicking at the car as they walk past either on there way to or home from school and with black soles leaving black marks on the car?

Dash cam - good idea, I'll mention it next time I see her

Kids kicking the car? Who knows, but, it only seems to happen late at night.

 

[The Panda Nut]

The smile is because I've managed, at last, to have a conversation with the owner of the little yellow Seichento I frequently see parked far and wide around our area when I'm out and about walking. The Lady who owns it was washing it when I was homeward bound on one of my walks a couple of days ago. I've spoken, very briefly, with her a couple of months ago - a lady only slightly younger than me - but she was in a hurry so only a few words were exchanged. On this occasion she was very chatty and I started off by congratulating her on the condition of the car. It's not pristine but has no obvious signs of abuse or rust and was looking good after it's wash. I'd forgotten that I'd recommended Kenny's Fiat garage to her last time we talked and she was very complimentary about a recent visit she'd made to them and the fact that they'd stored the car free after the work and until she'd returned from a few days away on holiday. So more good feedback about Kenny and his customer care.

Now the grumpy bit. I was wondering why she seldom parks the car in the street outside her house and she explained that someone is causing damage to it whenever she parks it there. It started with black marks, maybe with a wax crayon? being drawn down the doors and front wings and has escalated of late to two instances of dents being caused to the O/S/F wing and driver's door, like someone has punched it. She's absolutely convinced it's deliberate because if she parks the car a few streets away it is never marked. She's no idea who is responsible as it doesn't happen every time she parks it there although she's tried staying up to watch. Then, last week I believe, she realised a big black SUV - Like a Range Rover she said - with blacked out windows, seemed to be following her. She turned down a side road and it followed her. Then she went back onto the main road and it followed her. Well, she was near where her daughter lives. (this is a small dead end street) so she dived into the street and was lucky enough to find a space to park in. The SUV pulled up beside her. By now she was feeling very worried indeed of course and it would be easy to suggest several more sensible courses of action - hindsight is a wonderful thing - She was about to make a run for her daughter's front door when someone got out of the SUV and came round to her driver door. She said he looked and talked like GRU from Despicable Me if you know the film? He said "I want your car". She was quite frightened by now and didn't reply. He repeated "I want your car" She gathered herself together and said "well, it's not for sale" or something similar. He then gave some garbled story about owning one when he lived in Poland and wanting another one. At that he pulled a wad of cash out of his pocket and said "I give you £800 now for it". She ran into her daughter's house and the SUV drove off. Not surprisingly she's now wondering what it was all about and feels anxious something more sinister is going to happen. She's reported the incident to the police but they say they can do nothing as no offence was committed.

I told her It's probably just a chap who's made good, now has some money and wants to "relive" his youth. But who knows. I'm keeping an eye out for both the wee yellow car and the big black SUV when I'm out and about, which I am most days. I've no intention of physically intervening if I see anything "dodgy" going on but will record anything of interest and hand it on to her.

I reckon this is probably straight forward and not sinister. Poles are mega Fiat enthusiats it probably no more than this. If he asks again say its worth £3500!

 

[bugsymike]

I reckon this is probably straight forward and not sinister. Poles are mega Fiat enthusiats it probably no more than this. If he asks again say its worth £3500!

It will definitely go missing then and into a Polish container!