They are the Oscars of the pie-making world – and there’s only way to choose a winner.
Yesterday evening in Britain’s pie capital of Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, a panel of judges including some of the country’s most esteemed food writers chomped through more than 900 pies all vying for one thing – to be dubbed the country’s best.
But it was not a Cornish, steak and ale, or chicken pie which took home the top prize.
No, judges ruled the country’s best to be the Kebab Pie, produced by Boghall Butchers in Scotland.
It consists of a doner kebab filling of chicken, beef and a chilli marinade with a sweet chilli sauce and triumphed due to its ‘excellent bake, amazing pastry and wow factor.’
‘The Kebab Pie has a wonderfully rustic appearance, with great kerb appeal,’ Laura Hadland, a judge at the awards, told The Telegraph.
‘There’s something about a handmade pie of this quality that always catches the eye of the judge.
‘Boghall Butchers have offered a totally new combination of flavours and textures to this year’s British Pie Awards. By backing up the novelty of their idea with a robust focus on the quality of the pastry, the bake and the seasoning, they’ve created a deserving winner.’
Cooked up by butcher Paul Boyle (pictured) and his daughter, Boghall Butchers claim to sell more than 500 Kebab Pies every week
The Kebab Pie consists of a doner kebab filling of chicken, beef and a chilli marinade with a sweet chilli sauce
Entered in the ‘Fusion’ category which celebrates pies of new heritages, the butchers’ victory sees its owners end a 17-year-long wait for recognition from the British Pie Awards
Situated in the small town of Bathgate, West Lothian, where actor David Tennant and hit-maker Lewis Capaldi were born, Boghall Butchers claimed the Supreme Champion ‘Pie of Pies’ award on the year of its 50th birthday.
Cooked up and perfected by butcher Paul Boyle and his daughter Mariesha, the butchers claim to sell more than 500 of the creation every single week.
Miss Doyle told The Herald: ‘Our customers would ask if we could make one, so we thought we would give it a go in time for the awards.
‘It’s now our second best-selling pie beside our Scotch Pies, and people will queue up for it or ask us to put it aside form them.
‘We’re absolutely amazed to have won the top award at Melton Mowbray. We’re just delighted.’
Entered in the ‘Fusion’ category which celebrates pies of new heritages, the butchers’ victory sees its owners end a 17-year-long wait for recognition from the British Pie Awards.
Boghall Butchers had twice previously been crowned World Scotch Pie Champions in the 2000s.
The Supreme Champions will now be invited to Osaka in Japan to showcase the winning pie as part of the British Food Week in October.
