National food days come and go. There seemingly isn’t a food on earth that doesn’t have a day dedicated to it. National Banana Bread day, National Hummus Day, National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day (?!).
But one thing we can’t let pass us by is the opportunity to celebrate the humble British pie. A food so important, it warrants a full week of revelry rather than a measly 24 hours.
British Pie Week starts today (1 March) and runs up until Sunday, and we’ve rounded up some of the best pies from across Greater Manchester for to enjoy this week and beyond. There are traditional pies, curry pies, sweet pies, and lots more in between.
Lord of the Pies
The menu at Lord of the Pies in Chorlton features four pies which have been recognised with awards at the British Pie Awards (how much I would love to be a judge at that). Said accoladed pies are British pork and cider, beef and blue cheese, mixed cheese and onion, and beef and ale with roasted mushrooms.
There’s also meet and potato, pork and black pudding, chicken balti and ‘The Chorlton Pie’ which is filled with a superfood vegan stew with kale, edamame beans and celeriac puree.
Order on Deliveroo here.
Pieminister
If choice is what you’re after, then check out Pieminister‘s 15-strong range of award-winning pies which includes classics like steak and ale and chicken, ham and leek. There are more unconventional fillings too like Indian butter chicken and beef and stilton. Plus, there are six veggie pies (of which three are vegan) including jackfruit ‘steak’ & ale, Saag Pie-Neer, and goats cheese, sweet potato and spinach.
All their classic pies can be served as the ‘mothership’ with creamy mash, minted mushy peas, crispy shallots, cheddar and gravy.
Order through Deliveroo here or Uber Eats here.
Patel’s Pies
It’s becoming abundantly clear that pie and curry is an absolutely killer combination. Well, how about a full menu of them?
Patel’s Pies make Indian inspired pies which can be found at Bernie’s Grocery Store in Heaton Moor, Nordie in Levenshulme, Groceries and Beer in Sale and Stretford Foodhall. Fillings include Keema Lamb, Desi Chicken and Aloo Matar (potato and pea).
Visit their Instagram page for more info.
Great North Pie Co
MACARONI CHEESE PIE?! A topic that caused great debate in the EATMCR camp this week when we spotted this creation on Great North Pie Co’s twitter. Before you get too excited/outraged, we must stress that it’s only being tested at the moment and is not actually available yet but we’ll be keeping our eyes peeled.
On the menu at the moment is Swaledale beef and onion, roast chicken and ham, Lancashire cheese and onion, spinach and cheese, and keema and peas. They are available to order in boxes of four or eight for home deilvery and they can also be collected from their bakery in Wilmslow (Tue-Fri 10am-2pm) or from Altrincham Market from Tuesday to Sunday too.
Order via their website here.
Ate Days a Week
Stockport restaurant Ate Days a Week serves up a menu of handmade pies, alongside sandwiches, fish and chips, and ‘proper’ meals. They had opened a stall at Hatch for just a day last year before Manchester went back into lockdown, but they’re still doing deliveries from Stockport at the moment.
Their ‘Pie of the Tiger’ menu includes slow braised steak and ale; rosemary lamb, potato & mint; caramelised red onion, cheddar and brie; tandoori chicken pie; and cottage pie. They also do any of their pies ‘Died in your Barm’ with minted mushy peas and proper gravy on a buttered barm.
Order through their website here.
H.M.Pasties
Made by ex-offenders with produce from local prison farms and gardens, Bolton-based H.M.Pasties makes handmade pasties and pies which can be delivered to your door.
Fillings include steak and stout, cheese and onion, aloo saag, jerk chicken, and leek and mushroom. There are also pasties, sausage rolls and a DIY pasties kit.
Order online here: hmpasties.com.
Beehive Food
Beehive Food is a small batch food provider which normally provides food to restaurants and bars around Manchester. They create high end pub food, including a range of handmade pies and scotch eggs. They’ve got pies filled with pork and Bramley apple, goat’s cheese and red pepper, tarka dhal, and a homity pie.
There’s free delivery on orders over £20 and they are delivered every Wednesday if placed by Monday.
Order through their website here.
Idle Hands
Just in case you thought we were all about savoury pie, this sweet beauty deserves a mention this week – the rhubarb and blood orange meringue pie from Idle Hands. This can be ordered as a whole pie alongside a range of other sweet pies which are available for home delivery.
Other pies include smores pie, salted caramel brownie pie, vegan bakewell pie and banana cream pie.
View the full selection and order via their website here.
