Pies, a paean to pastry

Pies and tarts by Annie Rigg

Pie dish by us

The newest product on our website and in some of our retail outlets is a terrific pie dish.  It came into being when food writer Annie Rigg contacted us, asking if such a thing were possible to produce.

Now as you know, our creative genius likes nothing better than a design challenge, and a slice of pie, so he set to work.

Annie's verdict - "gamechanger" - she likes it!!

Pies are, without a doubt, this year's cupcakes; the humble pastry offering has grown wings, sported controversy  and been turned into an art form.  Take a look at the Instagram posts of @lokokitchen and @julie_jonesuk to see what I mean.  These are no ordinary pies and I certainly wouldn't attempt anything like those here at Netherton Towers.

But we do love pies and were eager to read Annie's book, although I confess here, as I did to Annie herself, to an initial degree of scepticism.

What more is there to say about pies? Single topic cookbooks, so often found languishing in charity shops with their dull covers and formulaic writing are too often uninspiring and predictable.

But this one is different, the cover alone is enough to make you want to buy it - beautiful deep blue with that bronze embossing, gorgeous.

And the inside...... so many new ideas, so much well, clearly written information on pastry techniques, even new pastry recipes - tahini pastry is a new one on us and a real treat.

Take, for example, the classic custard tart.  Made properly, it is divine (the least said about my late mother's pallid pastry and soggy bottom the better) and there is a recipe for a buttermilk version in this book.

But, in popular culinary parlance, bordering on overused cliché, the recipe for malted custard tartlets with bourbon soaked raisins, elevates this to another level.  In fact it takes the lift up several floors and gives this tart a view across the skyline.  Absolutely, lipsmackingly, plate-licking delicious.

We love the book, we love our new pie dish and are grateful to Annie for suggesting it. 

Have a look at our full range of bakeware over on the website.

Collaboration is a cracking way to do business.

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www.netherton-foundry.co.uk