Vegan pie crowned supreme champion for first time at British Pie Awards
A Curried Sweet Potato and Butternut Squash Vegan Pie, made by Somerset butcher’s, Jon Thorner’s, beat off competition from nearly 900 pies entered by 176 producers from across the nation.
All the pies were taste-tested by judges at St Mary’s Church in the town on Wednesday before today’s presentation event back at the historic church.
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Hide AdThe signiicance of the winner of the coveted ‘pie of pies’ accolade was not lost on Matthew O’Callaghan, the chairman of the awards.
He said: “This year’s Supreme Champion was outstanding and well deserving of the accolade.
“From its very appearance on the judging tray you knew it was going to do well and it didn’t disappoint when it was opened and tasted.
“This pie isn’t just for vegans, it’s a pie for everybody.
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Hide Ad“With this award we can truly say that veganism is now entering the mainstream of British food.”
Head judge, Colin Woodhead, was equally gushing in his praise for the winning pie, highlighting its moist and well-balanced filling.
He said: “There are a number of challenges to making a good vegan pie and this has cracked it.
“The pastry was exceptional with a crispness that complimented the filling.”
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Hide AdThe Shepton Mallet-based farm shop which produced the overall winner opened in 1979 and staff there have been baking hand-crimped pies since 2005, priding themselves on using locally sourced, high quality produce.
The Vegan Pie Class was a brand-new category for 2019 and received the second highest number of entries with a total of 68 pies in the running to be crowned Class Champion.
Coincidentally, this year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Vegan Society in Leicester and the coining of the word ‘vegan’ by founder Donald Watson.
There was some local success to celebrate at today’s presentation event with a 454g Dickinson & Morris Melton Mowbray Pork Pie, entered by Walker & Son, being named winner of the category for Melton Mowbray Pork Pie Champion, sponsored by The Melton Mowbray Building Society.
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Hide AdThe 11th British Pie Awards, which coincides with British Pie Week, this year featured 23 classes for professional bakers, butchers and chefs can submit entries to everything from a traditional Steak and Ale Pie Class to a Free From Pie and even a Pasty Class.
As well as a Class Champion prize in each category there are Highly Commended runner’s up accolades.
This year’s ‘specialist class’ championed another of the nation’s favourite staples, the Fish & Chip Shop Pie.
A Steak and Scale Ale Pie by The Cods Scallops fish and chip shop restaurant, in Nottingham, was named class winner.
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Hide AdMelton’s national reputation as rural capital of food makes it the ideal location to hold the awards, which promotes an industry which leads to £1 billion worth of pies being eaten every year in the UK.
All the class winners from the 2019 British Pie Awards:
SUPREME CHAMPION 2019
Sponsored by Howes Percival Solicitors LLP
Curried Sweet Potato and Butternut Squash Pie
Jon Thorner’s Ltd
SMALL PRODUCER AWARD 2019
Sponsored by Heygates Ltd
Jon Thorner’s Ltd
YOUNG PIE MAKER AWARD 2019
Sponsored by Kiwa
Charlie Sanders, 22
Delish, Cumbria
MELTON MOWBRAY PORK PIE CHAMPION 2019
Sponsored by The Melton Mowbray Building Society
Dickinson & Morris Melton Mowbray Pork Pie 454g
Walker & Son
PORK PIE CHAMPION 2019
Sponsored by Shoulers & Son
Large Free Range Pork Pie
J W Mettrick & Son
PORK AND OTHER MEAT PIE CHAMPION 2019
Sponsored by Sysonby Knoll Hotel & Restaurant
Chambers Pork and Chicken Pie with Cider Apple Stuffing
A E Chambers Ltd
COLD EATING SAVOURY PIE CHAMPION 2019
Sponsored by Brooksby Melton College
Charcoal Ploughmans
A E Chambers
STEAK & KIDNEY PIE CHAMPION 2019
Sponsored by Foyle Food Group
Delish Steak and Kidney
Delish
BEEF & ANY FLAVOUR PIE CHAMPION 2019
Sponsored by Melton Mowbray Town Estate
Steak & Onion Pie
The Pork Shop
BEEF & ALE PIE CHAMPION 2019
Sponsored by Scotch Beef PGI
Moo and Ale Pie
The Butcher and the Baker
BEEF & CHEESE PIE CHAMPION 2019
Sponsored by Rondo Limited
Turner’s Steak & Mature Cheddar Pie
Turner’s Pies Ltd
MEAT & POTATO PIE CHAMPION 2019
Sponsored by Golden Bake
Dartmoor Beef & Potato Pie
Passion For Pie
LAMB PIE CHAMPION 2019
Sponsored by Scotch Lamb PGI
Lamb, Rosemary & Roasted Garlic Pie
FUUD Ltd
CHICKEN PIE CHAMPION 2019
Sponsored by Chapman Associates
Humble Chicken, Brie & Cranberry Pie
Humble Sausage and Pie Company
CHICKEN & VEGETABLE / HERB PIE CHAMPION 2019
Sponsored by Pin-it Pastry
Chicken, Leek & Tarragon
Pie Eyed
CHICKEN & OTHER MEAT PIE CHAMPION 2019
Sponsored by Melton Borough Council
Chicken, Ham & Mushroom Pie
The Crown Hawk Green
SPECIALITY MEAT & GAME PIE CHAMPION 2019
Sponsored by Taste of Game
Ox Cheek & Venison
Piebury Corner Ltd
FISH PIE CHAMPION 2019
Sponsored by Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation
Salmon and Broccoli Pie
The Pie Kitchen
VEGETARIAN PIE CHAMPION 2019
Sponsored by The Vegetarian Society
Spinach & Goat Cheese Pie
Jarvis Pickle
VEGAN PIE CHAMPION 2019
The Vegan Owl
Curried Sweet Potato and Butternut Squash Pie
Jon Thorner’s Ltd
PASTY CHAMPION 2019
Sponsored by Kiwa
Chunk of Devon Steak Pasty
Chunk of Devon
DESSERT PIE CHAMPION 2019
Sponsored by Benton’s Estate Agents
Dark Cheery & Sweet Pastry Pie
Billington Foodservice
PUB PIE CHAMPION 2019
Sponsored by Nelsons For Cartons & Packaging
The Bell’s Bourguignon Pie
The Bell Pie Shop
SPORTS PIE CHAMPION 2019
Sponsored by Melton Mowbray Company Ltd
Steak & Ale Pie
Morecombe FC
FISH & CHIP SHOP PIE CHAMPION 2019
Melton Mowbray Pork Pie Association
Steak & Scale Ale
The Cods Scallops
FREE FORM CHAMPION 2019
Sponsored by The Pastry Room
Gluten Free Dartmoor Steak & Stilton Pie
Passion for Pie