Melton Mowbray sits in a geographical location know as the "Vale of Belvoir" (pronounced beaver). The Vale contained good pasture which led to the production of high quality milk and therefore the beginning of the Stilton cheese industry.
A major bi-product of the milk used to make Stilton is whey and this turned out to be an excellent food source for pigs, thus the dairies began keeping pigs. With a use being needed for the pork, the pork pie developed along with other pork products and Melton Mowbray became home to both the pork pie and Stilton cheese, two of the most renowned products in England!
When it comes to a recipe for authentic pork pie, I'm afraid that I find myself somewhat at a loss. Despite the many generations within my family, I know of not one person who actually ever cooked one! Our pork pies were always bought and many shops today still class it as a "secret art." One such shop is operated by Dickinson & Morris, and can be found…yes you've guessed it…in Melton Mowbray!
Ye Olde Pork Pie Shoppe has over 150 years of experience when it comes to ye olde pork pie. Not only have they won many awards and recommendations for their pies, but they also have the dual acclaim of being the oldest and last remaining producer of authentic Melton Mowbray Pork Pies based within the town.
The shop itself is also one of Leicestershire's most popular tourist attractions and offers daily demonstrations of traditional pork pie making throughout the summer months. Groups of eighteen or more can also take advantage of the "Pork Pie Experience" where everyone has a chance to learn the art of handraising a Melton Mowbray Pork Pie and make their very own pie.
But what are the ingredients, I hear you ask???
Sadly, I cannot offer you a recipe (although if anyone has one to match the Melton Mowbray pork pie, I'll be glad to publish it!), but I can give you a small glimpse into Dickinson & Morris's "secret art." For an authentic pork pie, they recommend the following:
| Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: | View all related messages |
For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to Elizabeth Batt's Leicestershire topic, please visit the Discussions page.