A vegan pie has today been crowned Supreme Champion at the British Pie Awards - which is a first in the history of the event.
The world-renowned awards, which take place in the Rural Capital of Food, Melton Mowbray, saw close to 900 pies entered from 176 producers in a battle to be named 'pie of pies.'
The event - now in its 11th year, takes place during British Pie Week (March 4-10 2019) each year.
The Vegan Pie Class was a new category for 2019 and received the second highest number of entries, with a total of 68 pies in the running to be crowned Class Champion, as well as going through to be considered for overall Supreme Champion of the 2019 Awards.
Coincidentally, this year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Vegan Society in Leicester - and the coining of the word “Vegan” by founder Donald Watson.
The winning vegan pie, which was crowned Class Champion and overall Supreme Champion, was a Curried Sweet Potato and Butternut Squash Vegan Pie, made by butcher Jon Thorner’s Ltd. It was commended by head judge Colin Woodhead for its moist and well-balanced filling.
Colin said: “There are a number of challenges to making a good vegan pie and this has cracked it. The pastry was exceptional with a crispness that complimented the filling.”
The Somerset-based farm shop opened in 1979 and has been baking hand crimped pies since 2005, using locally sourced, high quality produce.
This year’s British Pie Awards consisted of 23 pre-assigned classes, open to professional bakers, butchers and chefs.
Each class is awarded a Class Champion for that category and Highly Commended runners up.
This year’s “specialist class” championed another of the nation’s favourite staples: the Fish and Chip Shop Pie. A Steak and “Scale” Ale Pie by The Cods Scallops fish and chip shop restaurant in Nottingham was awarded Class Winner.
With Brits eating around £1billion-worth of pies each year, the British Pie Awards is a celebration of the rich heritage of the British pie.
Aiming to promote protected regional specialities, as well as shining the spotlight on excellent British produce, the awards welcomes producers, large and small, from all over the UK to enter their pastry-shrouded creations.
Matthew O’Callaghan, chairman of the British Pie Awards, said: “This year’s Supreme Champion was outstanding and well deserving of the accolade. From its very appearance on the judging tray you knew it was going to do well and it didn’t disappoint when it was opened and tasted. This pie isn’t just for vegans, it’s a pie for everybody. With this award we can truly say that veganism is now entering the mainstream of British food.”
Here's the full list of 2019 winners:
Small Producer Awards, sponsored by Heygates Ltd:
Jon Thorner’s Ltd
Young Pie Maker Award, sponsored by Kiwa
Charlie Sanders, 22 Delish, Cumbria
Melton Mowbray Pork Pie Champion, sponsored by The Melton Mowbray Building Society:
Dickinson & Morris Melton Mowbray Pork Pie 454g, Walker & Son
Pork Pie Champion, sponsored by Shoulders & Son:
Large Free Range Pork Pie, J W Mettrick & Son
Pork and Other Meat Pie Champion, sponsored by Sysonby Knoll Hotel & Restaurant:
Chambers Pork and Chicken Pie with Cider Apple Stuffing, A E Chambers Ltd
Cold Eating Savoury Pie Champion, sponsored by Brooksby Melton College:
Charcoal Ploughmans, A E Chambers
Steak and Kidney Pie Champion, sponsored by Foyle Food Group:
Delish Steak and Kidney, Delish
Beef and Any Flavour Pie Champion, sponsored by Melton Mowbray Town Estate:
Steak & Onion Pie, The Pork Shop
Beef and Ale Pie Champion, sponsored by Scotch Beef:
PGI Moo and Ale Pie, The Butcher and the Baker
Beef and Cheese Pie Champion, sponsored by Rondo Limited:
Turner’s Steak & Mature Cheddar Pie, Turner’s Pies Ltd
Meat and Potato Pie Champion, sponsored by Golden Bake:
Dartmoor Beef & Potato Pie, Passion For Pie
Lamb Pie Champion, sponsored by Scotch Lamb:
PGI Lamb, Rosemary & Roasted Garlic Pie, FUUD Ltd
Chicken Pie Champion, sponsored by Chapman Associates:
Humble Chicken, Brie & Cranberry Pie, Humble Sausage and Pie Company
Chicken and Vegetable/Herb Pie Champion, sponsored by Pin-it Pastry:
Chicken, Leek & Tarragon, Pie Eyed
Chicken and Other Meat Pie Champion, sponsored by Melton Borough Council:
Chicken, Ham & Mushroom Pie, The Crown Hawk Green
Speciality Meat and Game Pie Champion, sponsored by Taste of Game:
Ox Cheek & Venison, Piebury Corner Ltd
Fish Pie Champion, sponsored by Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation:
Salmon and Broccoli Pie, The Pie Kitchen
Vegetarian Pie Champion, sponsored by The Vegetarian Society:
Spinach & Goat Cheese Pie, Jarvis Pickle
Vegan Pie Champion, sponsored by The Vegan Owl
Curried Sweet Potato and Butternut Squash Pie, Jon Thorner’s Ltd
Pasty Champion, Sponsored by Kiwa Chunk of Devon:
Steak Pasty, Chunk of Devon
Dessert Pie Champion, sponsored by Benton’s Estate Agents:
Dark Cheery & Sweet Pastry Pie, Billington Foodservice
Pub Pie Champion, sponsored by Nelsons For Cartons & Packaging:
The Bell’s Bourguignon Pie, The Bell Pie Shop
Sports Pie Champion, sponsored by Melton Mowbray Company Ltd:
Steak & Ale Pie, Morecombe FC
Fish and Chip Shop Pie Champion, sponsored by Melton Mowbray Pork Pie Association:
Steak & Scale Ale, The Cods Scallops
Free From Champion, sponsored by The Pastry Room:
Gluten Free Dartmoor Steak & Stilton Pie, Passion for Pie
Supreme Champion, sponsored by Howes Percival Solicitors LLP:
Curried Sweet Potato and Butternut Squash Pie - Jon Thorner’s Ltd
For more information about the British Pie Awards, click here to visit the website.