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Book review: Pieminister

October 7, 2011 by Katie Bryson 94 Comments

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shot by James Bowden and layouts designed by A-Side StudioAs the weather cruelly switches from Indian summer to wind, rain and grey skies, a recipe book full of pies for every possible occasion has definitely got my attention.

Pieminister creators Tristan Hogg and Jon Simon fancy themselves as the leaders of a ‘pie revolution’ – reinventing the pie for a new generation. Personally I don’t think the Brits needs their arms twisting, as it’s the one part of our food heritage I think we’re all rather fond of.

Anyway the two brothers-in-law founded the company back in 2003 and started knocking out pies in a shop in Bristol. The boys were passionate that their products contain fresh, responsibly sourced, free-range and natural ingredients gathered from as close to home as possible.

They hit the big time with their pies after serving them up at Glastonbury festival and at London’s Borough Market where they really caught people’s attention. You can now get hold of them all around the country at delis, food halls, famers markets and supermarkets.

So now they’ve written a book spilling all their secrets… generous of them eh?!

Who is it for?

Pie enthusiasts and those amongst us who love eating pies but perhaps have never tried to make one before. It’s not just winter food either, there are pies for summer parties, spring suppers and even one you can serve in a mug while camping!

Easy to follow

The first section of the book is given over to the important matter of pastry. There’s recipes and instructions for all the variations, from shortcrust to rough puff, suet to filo. I’ve never been brave when it comes to making pastry – I usually chicken out and buy ready-made. This book did inspire me to have a go as it made it seem so much more straightforward.

There’s a handy glossary in the pastry section too which explain all those technical terms like baking blind and crimping. There are also tips of what to do with your leftover pastry trimmings. I usually let my kids play with it like edible playdough, but I guess jam tarts would be a bonus!

shot by James Bowden and layouts designed by A-Side Studio

The rest of the book is less instruction manual and more coffee table read. Full of lovely photographs and rambling text that’s not broken up into numbered points. It’s a book to sit with on the sofa and read of an evening, and then stick post-it notes on the recipes you fancy. It’s not really a book you can just dive into and quickly find a recipe – it demands to be savoured.

It’s helpfully divided into seasons though, with an intro to the vegetables, fruit, meat and fish that are available at that time. There’s also a section at the back with ideas for what to serve with your pie.

Family friendly

The very nature of a pie is family friendly. It conjures up images of a big kitchen table with a huge steaming pie in the middle surrounded by a hungry family waiting to dig in.

In terms of recipes some of them are quite gourmet using game and spices which are perhaps not strictly suited to the tastes of small fuss pots.

However there are plenty of other more approachable recipes to choose from. There’s the wonderfully named poussin boots pie which is a fantastic spin on the traditional chicken filling, with bacon, red wine and a soured cream pastry topper.

Glamping pies with a delish sounding sausage and bean filling eaten out of mugs with puff pastry lids – great for camping or just a fun tea-time at home.

And the classic pietanic! Billed in the book as the finest fish pie to sail the seven seas, it certainly looks like family food at it’s best.

Vegetarian friendly?

The book could do with a vegetarian heading in the index so you can quickly find all the veggie recipes that are liberally dotted around the book. I was really pleased with the amount of appealing meat-free pies on offer though – I have to admit I wasn’t expecting there to be so many.

There’s a vegan friendly courgette and chickpea filo pie which looks vibrant and astonishingly healthy. The red pepper and butter bean ‘bada boom’ mini pies with herby breadcrumb crusts look tempting. And the glorious fan-taffy pie full of leeks, cheese, wine and double cream is definitely worth a go.

Most likely to cook

Well I’ve already made sausage, cider and potato pie, which was a roaring success. I’m certainly going to work my way through the vegetarian offerings, and I think I’ll make a non-spicy version of chilli ‘pie-angles’ for the kids’ lunchboxes.

Least likely to cook

I used to have a pet rabbit called Thumper, so wabbit roll and love bunny pie would never ever in a million years get served up in my house.

Would you buy it for a friend?

I think it would make a superb present for a man. Pies are seen as a macho thing, and having been written by men the book has a very masculine look and feel. A lot of the photos are of men making and eating pies.

Rating out of 10

I’d give it a 7. It’s a great looking book with a lot of fantastic recipes – but like a lot of men I know, it just needs to be a bit better organised 😉

Published in hardback by Bantam Press on 1st September 2011, priced £14.99

*****THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW CLOSED, NO MORE ENTRIES PLEASE****

WIN WIN WIN!

I have one copy of Pieminister to giveaway to a lucky reader….

1. For your main chance to win please comment on this post telling me about your favourite kind of pie.

2. For a bonus second chance to win please tweet this post Win Pieminister recipe book http://tinyurl.com/3pa2sd6 @cookingkt  and comment HERE telling me you have done so along with your twitter username

3. For a third chance to win please follow me @cookingkt on Twitter and comment HERE to tell me you have done so.

4. For a fourth chance to win please go and ‘like’ Feeding Boys on Facebook, and come back to this page to comment you have done so.

*****THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW CLOSED, NO MORE ENTRIES PLEASE****

This giveaway is open to all readers with a UK mailing address. The winner will be chosen using an online randomiser and announced in a subsequent post.

I am running this competition on behalf of Bantam Press who will be responsible for sending the prize to the winner. Their decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

There is one main way to enter and several ways to get bonus entries. You must leave a separate comment for each bonus entry otherwise they will not be counted.

Closing date: 10pm Sunday, 30th October 2011

Good Luck!

Thanks to Bantam Press for my review copy of Pieminister

*****THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW CLOSED, NO MORE ENTRIES PLEASE****

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Filed Under: 1 Featured Review, Book review, Win Tagged With: book review, competition, Cookery Book Review, giveaway, pies, recipe book review, Review, win

« Sausage, cider and potato pie
Dinner: Salmon, pea and pepper spaghetti »

Comments

  1. Maggie says

    October 7, 2011 at 1:15 pm

    Chicken pie is definitely my favourite. I would never consider eating a bunny rabbit though!!

    Reply
  2. Maggie says

    October 7, 2011 at 1:17 pm

    I have just liked your page on Facebook.

    Reply
  3. Maggie says

    October 7, 2011 at 1:21 pm

    @MaggieFoodie I have just followed you on Twitter

    Reply
  4. Jan Bailey says

    October 7, 2011 at 4:36 pm

    Our family favourite pie is a chicken,bacon and mushroom pie which is good served hot or cold. I make it in a loose bottomed tin and ease it out very carefully when cool so it has the look of a raised pie – delish!

    Reply
  5. lesley stevens says

    October 7, 2011 at 6:32 pm

    my favourite kind of pie – homemade steak and kidney pie made by my mother – with lots of rich thick gravy – such a warming dish on a cold bleak afternoon.

    Reply
  6. lesley stevens says

    October 7, 2011 at 6:34 pm

    I have tweeted – twitter username Lesleyvilla.

    Reply
  7. lesley stevens says

    October 7, 2011 at 6:36 pm

    I’m following you on twitter – my username Lesleyvilla

    Reply
  8. lesley stevens says

    October 7, 2011 at 6:39 pm

    I have liked your facebook page.

    Reply
  9. Kirsty Fox says

    October 7, 2011 at 10:01 pm

    Chicken and mushroom is my favourite pie, yum!

    @bloomingfox

    Reply
  10. Kirsty Fox says

    October 7, 2011 at 10:02 pm

    I have tweeted – @bloomingfox

    Reply
  11. Kirsty Fox says

    October 7, 2011 at 10:03 pm

    I follow you on twitter – @bloomingfox

    Reply
  12. Kirsty Fox says

    October 7, 2011 at 10:03 pm

    I like your FB page – Kirsty Fox

    Reply
  13. Sarah Anguish (@littleboo_21) says

    October 8, 2011 at 10:34 am

    Steak and Kidney, yum yum

    @littleboo_21
    http://boorootiggertoo.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  14. Sarah Anguish (@littleboo_21) says

    October 8, 2011 at 10:35 am

    Tweeted too

    @littleboo_21
    http://boorootiggertoo.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  15. Sarah Anguish (@littleboo_21) says

    October 8, 2011 at 10:35 am

    Following you on Twitter

    @littleboo_21
    http://boorootiggertoo.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  16. Sarah Anguish (@littleboo_21) says

    October 8, 2011 at 10:36 am

    Liked your FB page – Boo Roo and Tigger Too

    @littleboo_21
    http://boorootiggertoo.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  17. Christine Ball says

    October 8, 2011 at 6:55 pm

    My favourite kind of pie is Steak and Kidney as it is wholesome, nutritious and tastes quite delicious

    Reply
  18. Rhonda says

    October 8, 2011 at 8:43 pm

    Chicken pie is by far my favourite.

    Reply
  19. Rhonda says

    October 8, 2011 at 8:44 pm

    I’ve tweeted your tweet @snowted

    Reply
  20. Rhonda says

    October 8, 2011 at 8:45 pm

    I’m following you on Twitter @snowted

    Reply
  21. Tracy K Nixon says

    October 8, 2011 at 8:45 pm

    My favourite pie is chicken, mushroom and red pepper! My mum showed me how to make it – simply fill it with condensed cream of mushroom soup with roast chicken pieced and sliced red pepper!

    Reply
  22. Rhonda says

    October 8, 2011 at 8:45 pm

    I’ve liked you on Facebook, Tink Lee Mse

    Reply
  23. Tracy K Nixon says

    October 8, 2011 at 8:46 pm

    Tweeted @tracyknixon

    Reply
  24. Tracy K Nixon says

    October 8, 2011 at 8:46 pm

    I am already a follower on Twitter @tracyknixon

    Reply
  25. Tracy K Nixon says

    October 8, 2011 at 8:48 pm

    I am already a fan on Facebook and have shared! Tracy K Nixon

    Thank you for the lovely review and giveaway! Very much appreciated x

    Reply
  26. Miss Natalie Wallace says

    October 8, 2011 at 8:54 pm

    Have liked your facebook page. My favourite pie would have to be corned beef and potato.

    Reply
  27. Teresa Allen says

    October 8, 2011 at 8:57 pm

    Love a meat pie made with beef skirt!

    Reply
  28. Georg Ball says

    October 8, 2011 at 9:00 pm

    I like any kind of pie really, I just love pie! Gotta be steak and kidney though!

    Reply
  29. Georg Ball says

    October 8, 2011 at 9:01 pm

    Like on FB

    Reply
  30. Georg Ball says

    October 8, 2011 at 9:01 pm

    Follow on twitter – GeorgeBee69

    Reply
  31. Georg Ball says

    October 8, 2011 at 9:02 pm

    Tweeted – GeorgeBee69

    Reply
  32. Sarah Hodge says

    October 8, 2011 at 9:44 pm

    Chicken, Ham & Leek pie made with puff pastry…..yummmmmmmm!!!!

    Reply
  33. jennie jackson says

    October 8, 2011 at 9:45 pm

    my mums homemade sausage meat pie

    Reply
  34. Sarah Hodge says

    October 8, 2011 at 9:46 pm

    Following, tweeted (silverkaylah) and liked!!!

    Reply
  35. Rebecca says

    October 8, 2011 at 9:47 pm

    Must be steak in red wine pie with a puff pastry lid! Yummy!

    Reply
  36. Rebecca says

    October 8, 2011 at 9:49 pm

    Just retweeted – my username is bec54c

    Reply
  37. Rebecca says

    October 8, 2011 at 9:51 pm

    Now following you on twitter – username is bec54c

    Reply
  38. Rebecca says

    October 8, 2011 at 9:51 pm

    I’ve just liked you on facebook as well

    Reply
  39. Rachel Williams says

    October 8, 2011 at 9:56 pm

    My favourite kind of pie is my Nan’s homemade apple pie, served with cream and a nice cup of tea.

    Reply
  40. sohadre Anirood says

    October 8, 2011 at 10:23 pm

    I just love home made pies

    Reply
  41. Gemma Harrison says

    October 8, 2011 at 10:31 pm

    My mums meat and potato is the best x

    Reply
  42. Jane Willis (@janesgrapevine) says

    October 9, 2011 at 7:21 am

    My favourite pie is cheese and onion – especially when it isn’t bulked out with potato

    Reply
  43. Jane Willis (@janesgrapevine) says

    October 9, 2011 at 7:21 am

    I’ve tweeted

    Reply
  44. Jane Willis (@janesgrapevine) says

    October 9, 2011 at 7:22 am

    and I’m following you on Twitter @janesgrapevine

    Reply
  45. Kiara White says

    October 9, 2011 at 7:45 am

    My favorite would have to be chicken pie. Must admit though I myself have never made a meat pie, maybe this book would inspire me. So far I have always stuck to sweet pies, my favorite from them being bilberry pie made from bilberries picked on Ilkley Moor, served with double cream.

    Reply
  46. Richard Sutherland says

    October 9, 2011 at 8:51 am

    Has to be steak pie

    Reply
  47. Philip Darling says

    October 9, 2011 at 10:59 am

    Chicken and bacon pie….hmmmmm…now I’ve gone and made myself hungry

    Reply
  48. donna turner says

    October 9, 2011 at 11:01 am

    It has to be chicken pie with lashings of gravy ummmmmmmm!!!

    Reply
  49. Diane says

    October 9, 2011 at 12:13 pm

    I love chicken pie the best. Proper pieces of bite size chicken and a lovely gravy. Mmmm

    Reply
  50. Lucy says

    October 9, 2011 at 12:56 pm

    Anything with puff pastry, although huge fan of chicken and gravy pie with mash in the winter 🙂 Would love to branch out and be a bit more creative but I’m at a loss for where to start! Think you’ve just pointed me in the right direction though 🙂

    Reply
  51. Lucy says

    October 9, 2011 at 12:57 pm

    Have tweeted @AetharaGirl

    Reply
  52. Lucy says

    October 9, 2011 at 12:57 pm

    And am following you on twitter @AetharaGirl

    Reply
  53. marcus says

    October 9, 2011 at 1:42 pm

    chicken and mushroom pie

    Reply
  54. Judy Wright says

    October 9, 2011 at 2:37 pm

    Chicken and mushroom is my fave 🙂

    Reply
  55. Ileana Fernandes says

    October 9, 2011 at 5:00 pm

    My fave pie of all time is a cheese, broccoli and caluiflower pie!! Sounds strange but is really delish!

    Reply
  56. ellen says

    October 9, 2011 at 6:24 pm

    spring veg pie

    Reply
  57. kaz says

    October 9, 2011 at 8:52 pm

    my mum’s leftover christmas turkey and ham pie 😀

    Reply
  58. kaz says

    October 9, 2011 at 8:53 pm

    liked your facebook page karen scammell

    Reply
  59. Amber says

    October 9, 2011 at 11:17 pm

    My favourite pie is steak and ale, but I also love a chicken gravy pie!

    Reply
  60. Paul Wilson says

    October 10, 2011 at 2:12 am

    My mum’s Chicken & Leek pie.

    Reply
  61. Neil Gotadoro (@ngotadoro) says

    October 10, 2011 at 10:15 am

    Mine’s got to be the Minty Lamb pie. The combination of tender british lamb and redcurrant sauce with those sweetly roasted root vegetables induce fond memories of English countryside and cold autumn days at outdoor festivals. Best served with a red wine gravy and perfectly mashed potatoes – nothing else compares to the first wooden fork through the shortcrust top!

    Reply
  62. Cheryl Bridges says

    October 10, 2011 at 10:24 am

    Great review! And my favourite pie is the classic moo pie-but I havn’t tried them all so I need this book! 🙂

    Reply
  63. Cheryl Bridges says

    October 10, 2011 at 10:28 am

    I have tweeted you! Username @cherylplatform4

    Reply
  64. Cheryl Bridges says

    October 10, 2011 at 10:31 am

    And now following @cookingkt ! Which actually looks rather awesome!

    Reply
  65. Solange says

    October 10, 2011 at 2:59 pm

    I love mushroom pie

    Reply
  66. Gemma Szwed says

    October 11, 2011 at 5:52 pm

    My favourite pie is Chicken mushroom and leek pie, oh yes, it’s delicious!

    Reply
  67. Gemma Szwed says

    October 11, 2011 at 5:52 pm

    I have tweeted my twitter name is MonkyArtyPrints and here is my tweet http://twitter.com/#!/MonkyArtyPrints/status/123802603279757313

    Reply
  68. Gemma Szwed says

    October 11, 2011 at 5:53 pm

    I am following you on twitter @MonkyArtyPrints

    Reply
  69. Gemma Szwed says

    October 11, 2011 at 5:53 pm

    Liking you on facebook Gemma Monkyartyprints Szwed

    Reply
  70. Lu says

    October 11, 2011 at 10:26 pm

    I used to live in New Zealand and I still have dreams about steak and cheese pies ( yum! )

    Reply
  71. River White says

    October 12, 2011 at 12:19 am

    Banoffee Pie! Nomnomnomnom… Bleh to savoury! Mere appetisers to the King Banoffee beast!

    Reply
  72. River White says

    October 12, 2011 at 12:22 am

    Liked on Facebook. Those cakes look lush.

    Reply
  73. nikki says

    October 12, 2011 at 11:03 am

    not exactly a pie, but my ultimate favourite is homemade SHEPERDS PIE. If we are going for a proper pie, it would have to be what my nan named the SUNDAY ROAST PIE, with meat and veg left from the sunday roast. I still make it now. xx

    Reply
  74. Dorothee Archambault (@Dorothee77) says

    October 12, 2011 at 8:32 pm

    Mushroom pie! Thanks for the giveaway

    @Dorothee77

    Reply
  75. Dorothee Archambault (@Dorothee77) says

    October 12, 2011 at 8:33 pm

    I have also tweeted the giveaway
    @Dorothee77

    Reply
  76. Dorothee Archambault (@Dorothee77) says

    October 12, 2011 at 8:34 pm

    I follow you @cookingkt on Twitter
    @Dorothee77

    Reply
  77. Dorothee Archambault (@Dorothee77) says

    October 12, 2011 at 8:35 pm

    I like your FB page

    @Dorothee77

    Reply
  78. Paul Thomas says

    October 15, 2011 at 11:48 pm

    My favourite pie is Steak & Ale. Although pretty much any pie without chesse in it is great to me.

    Reply
  79. Paul Thomas says

    October 15, 2011 at 11:50 pm

    I’ve also posted yoru tweet and my twittername is @unclepiehead

    Reply
  80. Paul Thomas says

    October 15, 2011 at 11:50 pm

    I’m also following you on Twitter, @unclepiehead

    Reply
  81. Paul Thomas says

    October 15, 2011 at 11:51 pm

    And I’ve liked your facebook page

    Reply
  82. rosie says

    October 18, 2011 at 12:36 pm

    chicken bacon and cider with creamy cheese sauce pie!

    Reply
  83. rosie says

    October 18, 2011 at 12:38 pm

    ive tweeted and followed! @kosiering

    Reply
  84. Adam Frost says

    October 19, 2011 at 8:06 pm

    Slow cooked rabbit with red wine is amazing!

    Reply
  85. Victoria B says

    October 22, 2011 at 9:11 pm

    I like a fruity pie. Apple or cherry or rhubarb.

    Reply
  86. rebecca wargen says

    October 22, 2011 at 9:56 pm

    Inspired by a place in Reading, Vicars Pie! Absolutely mouth-watering!

    Reply
  87. Claire says

    October 23, 2011 at 12:10 pm

    My favourite pie is apple…I have a sweet tooth!

    Reply
  88. Claire says

    October 23, 2011 at 12:11 pm

    I have tweeted the giveaway as @claire_trevor

    Reply
  89. Claire says

    October 23, 2011 at 12:12 pm

    I am following you on twitter as @claire_trevor

    Reply
  90. Claire says

    October 23, 2011 at 12:13 pm

    I have liked on facebook (Claire Trevor).

    Reply
  91. Robyn Clarke says

    October 23, 2011 at 10:08 pm

    Chicken mushroom, leek and bacon, work so well together. mmm

    Reply
  92. Robyn Clarke says

    October 23, 2011 at 10:08 pm

    Tweeted @robynlclarke

    Reply
  93. Robyn Clarke says

    October 23, 2011 at 10:09 pm

    Following on Twitter @robynlclarke

    Reply
  94. Robyn Clarke says

    October 23, 2011 at 10:09 pm

    Like on Facebook (Robyn Logan)

    Reply

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I’m Katie Bryson – Freelance Food Writer, wife of a strapping vegetarian and mum of two boisterous boys – keeping them all fuelled and trying to stay sane is a daily challenge so I thought I’d share my experiences. Read More...

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