Life of Pies

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So far jimmy has created 17 blog entries.

Steve’s Steak and Veg Pie

jimmy2020-01-06T17:54:14+00:00January 6th, 2020|

This is an interesting one, a perk of the job, well, the hobby as it stands. A Man City fan I know, Johnny Stafford got in touch to tell me about his mate who makes his own pies and sell them at work. And guess what? He made me one! It would be a travesty not to review it, wouldn’t it?

In return for the pie, I sent Steve a present money can’t buy, a priceless* copy of my book, Life of Pies.

Before Christmas, I finally managed to nip out to Eccles to transfer it from Johnny’s freezer to mine, and […]

Merry Xmas, here’s a Delish Christmas Pie!!

jimmy2019-12-24T12:42:37+00:00December 24th, 2019|

Barrow remains a good source of pies with many decent independent outlets. It’s all a matter of taste, of course, but I would still put the well-known (via ‘Life of Pies’ and the Hairy Bikers among others) Greens Pie Shop as my favourites.

The new kid on the block is increasing in popularity, however. ‘Deli.sh’ (sic) on Crellin Street is just behind McDonalds on Dalton Road and opposite Portland Walk, the main shopping streets. It is particularly popular with younger people. Website: http://www.delishbarrow.com/

The normal pie offerings are Meat and Potato (£1.70) and Steak and Potato (£1.80) – […]

New pies at the home of Crusty the Pie

jimmy2019-12-12T12:08:49+00:00December 12th, 2019|

Regardless of my views on the selection of caterer for pies at the DW Stadium, home of Wigan Athletic and Wigan Warriors, there is a new pie supplier providing hot pastry products to sports fans of Wigan and visitors far and wide.

The carefully chosen vendor is Clayton Park of Accrington, you can check out their produce which sits at the creatively chosen URL of www.pietastic.com.
East Lancashire is something of a hot bed (or hot oven if you prefer) on the pie making front with ubiquitous chip shop giants, Hollands, also situated nearby. Neither of them are […]

The Fat Dad’s Football Camp Holiday Gift Exchange Club

jimmy2019-12-07T13:52:43+00:00December 7th, 2019|

Let me set the scene here. I’ve no idea how it started but a bunch of us play football on a Thursday night. Somebody, somewhere at one point decided to bring home something for a few of the lads from their holiday. I can’t remember whether it was a stick of salami, a strong beer or a bottle of olive oil, but I think it’s fair to say, things have escalated somewhat ever since.

Reindeer meat, absinthe, napalm like chilli sauces, double digit beers and imperial stouts. Fine wines and spirits, tequila with worms in them, souvlaki and bruschetta mix, the […]

Wrights Pies, burning like fire!!

jimmy2019-10-11T23:32:26+01:00October 11th, 2019|

Got to keep up the batting average: now, where can I reasonably get to within my lunch hour without anyone noticing I’ve disappeared? I do 12 hours days so if I take longer than an hour it’s not a huge deal but then there’s the side effects. Having a pastry heavy pie for lunch often lays a bit heavy on the stomach; I may as well have six pints I’ll be that lethargic. Like the IT developers who go to our canteen and polish off a full curry, then apple crumble and custard for afters. If I did that I’d […]

The Muffin Man Meat and Potato Pie

jimmy2019-09-14T22:18:32+01:00September 14th, 2019|

Saturday January 21^st 2012

It’s highly probable that blood has been spilled over the debate as to who makes the best pies in Wigan. Or pie gravy at least. This is why the question needs answering. There are people who swear by the Muffin Man. Plus it’s in my village so giving it a shit review will see me ostracised by my local community and earn me the nickname “that pie wanker”.

Keep it simple for now:

“Right darling – going getting my hair cut, then I’m getting some petrol. Fancy a pie for lunch?”

It needs to be a local one given we’re […]

Day 1: Hampsons / Sayers Meat and Potato Pie

jimmy2019-09-09T12:17:43+01:00September 8th, 2019|

Somehow, seven years has passed since I embarked on my ground breaking travelogue, the Life of Pies. It wasn’t the first or only book about pies, but it still remains the only book about eating pies, rather than the plethora of attempts at books determined to teach the public as to how to make a good pie. Seems a bit illogical to me. Why bake when you can buy and keep your local butcher, baker or even a candle stick maker in business? LOL, as if people still make a living making candles. Yep, they make a bloody fortune out […]

A Potted pie guide

jimmy2019-05-31T08:53:45+01:00May 31st, 2019|

The beauty of my extensive research (2012-present*) is that whenever I find myself in a foreign town, I always know where to sniff out the best pies.

(*though if truth be known, like most Wiganers, I have been sampling pies for as long as I cut my first teeth)

So it was that after finishing a 10k in Lancaster in a respectable 47.06m, I needed to rebuild my carbohydrate store.
What better place to go, than an old favourite in the form of Potts Pies of Lancaster, Morecambe and Carnforth?

On my way out of […]

jimmy2019-03-24T14:56:43+00:00March 24th, 2019|

It’s been a while, I actually did this review at Christmas but only just managed to plonk it on the site. Anyway, here goes….

Like I need more food to eat over Christmas. But I suppose it’s a pleasant change from the mountain of cheese and pate I’m currently wading through.

Purchased from THEE ALDI at a price of, hang on, *checks receipts*, £1.79, I bought it because I had not seen it before and I fancied […]

Save The Pie!

jimmy2018-12-12T11:14:49+00:00December 12th, 2018|

For one week only I am selling off some pie books on the cheap I have found. I am selling them at just £1.99 or they WILL be pulped. Due to Brexit (no seriously), a lost pen drive, some Customs problems and all manner of other issues, I am stuck with a mountain of debt and loads of pie books I just can’t sell so here’s your chance to nab one on the cheap.

Postage is three quid and no collections/deliveries I am afraid but you can still get […]

Red Hot Pie Action: The Will Grigg pie

jimmy2018-03-17T18:43:25+00:00March 17th, 2018|

As many readers know I’m a Wiganer as well as a pie lover, and let’s face it, the two normally go hand in hand anyway. Following Wigan Athletic’s remarkable run to the quarter final of the FA Cup, the Rolling Pin Bakery in Wigan decided to produce a one off pie to celebrate our centre forward’s goal scoring feats.

Without further ado, your roving reporter, who is technically on a diet, thought it best to go and check it out in the interests of research.

The Will Grigg pie contains chicken, chorizo (pronounced CHH-orizo NOT Kor-izo eh Pie at Night lads?) and […]

Living the dream as a Pie Judge

jimmy2018-03-09T13:35:36+00:00March 9th, 2018|

I’ve written at length in the past about pies, reviewed pies, looked at particular types of pies, or pies by area and I write about loads of other stuff too but then you’ll have to go elsewhere for that as this blog is solely about pies.

I’ve also bemoaned certain events, some but not all which were out of my control but essentially resulted in my decision to write a book about pies into something of a mini-disaster.

Still, I wrote a book about pies which is what I set out to do and nobody can take that away from me. Moreover, […]

Free postage on Life of Pies – the ideal pie based Xmas gift!

jimmy2017-11-24T17:20:48+00:00November 24th, 2017|

It’s Black Friday and soon enough Christmas is coming and the pie eater is getting fat as they say. The nights are drawing in and you’ll be needing a good book to read. Well, I can’t promise that, but I can promise you the opportunity to get hold of a copy of the Life of Pies for just £9.99 including FREE POSTAGE for a limited time.

So if you’re looking for a birthday gift or Christmas present for the pie lover in your life, and your budget is, let’s say £10, then Life of Pies could be the answer. Containing 388 […]

Taylor Made!

jimmy2017-10-17T17:42:00+01:00October 17th, 2017|

It’s time for the latest episode of my “pies which didn’t make it into the book (and probably deserved to)” series and today I’m sampling the pies from Derby House, or rather Taylor’s Farm Shop near Ormskirk, West Lancashire.

For all the pies I tried during the making of Life of Pies (copies still available here etc etc http://www.lifeofpies.co.uk/buy) I never visited my local farm shop, so it’s time to rectify that and dive back in on the pie trail.

Derby House is a place where the well-heeled “ladies do lunch” in the heart of rural (rich) West Lancashire, just a […]

The greatest show on earth!!

jimmy2017-08-20T14:38:29+01:00August 20th, 2017|

It’s taken me a few weeks to catch up following my trip to Melton Mowbray but yes PIE FEST is really a thing, and it really is a festival of PIES!!

I was kindly invited there on the Sunday to talk about my book and my exploits whilst writing it, along with my experiences of pie traditions up and down the country and what I like to see in a good pie.

It was great to speak in front of close to 100 attentive people in the Pie Theatre and following my talk, I set up stall and managed to sell a […]

A festival of pies!

jimmy2017-10-12T15:42:52+01:00July 25th, 2017|

It’s not often I get a gig to go to. Even when I do it tends to fall through, like the unfortunate incident over the cancelled BBC Documentary. There are numerous events in the pie calendar that simply cannot be missed however and this year’s PIE FEST in Melton Mowbray is definitely one of them.

It’s quite telling that even in Wigan, the local council have never ever attempted anything so ambitious. Of course, we have the annual World Pie Eating Championships but a fine foodie weekend in Melton Mowbray offers up a whole host of cultural pie related entertainment.

At this […]

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