Monday 20 April 2009

Pie, Mash & Liquor for Casey & Katie...

This is an explanation of the traditional pie and mash shop for Casey & Katie, who asked about Pie & Mash in my previous post. So if your ever in London, find a Pie & Mash shop and give it a try.
I made mine as a joke for my Dad, who originally came from the East End of London and loved his Pie & Mash, with plenty of Vinegar and Black Pepper.
Manze's have always been the best Pie & Mash shops, the picture of this shop is in Peckham, South East London and I often used to go there with my friends at lunch time from work, when I worked in The Old Kent Road. But I would just have the Pie and Mash without the Liquor.

Pie and mash is a traditional London working class food. Pie, mash and stewed eels shops have been in London since the 18th century and are still common in south and east London and also found in many parts of Essex.[1]

Pie Mash & Liquor

The main dish sold is pie and mash — a minced beef pie and mashed potato. It is common for the mashed potato to be spread around one side of the plate and for a type of parsley sauce called liquor (although it is non-alcoholic) to be added. Liquor traditionally has a green colour which is not from food colouring but the parsley. It is also traditionally made using the water kept from the preparation of the stewed eels.

Traditionally the shops have white tile walls, with marble floors, tables and work tops, easy to clean and giving a Victorian appearance.

Jellied eels are another London speciality often sold in pie and mash shops. Chilli-vinegar (vinegar containing pickled chillies) is also traditionally served with both of these dishes.

The pies, mash potato and stewed eels are all prepared on the premises. Jellied eels are usually bought ready prepared.

Recently pie and mash shops have started to offer vegetarian pies and also menus for children which has met with a measure of success. It is possible to buy pie and mash on the internet.

14 comments:

Caseymini said...

The pie and mash sounds a bit like Shepard's Pie. I am not sure about the liquor part. That sounds a bit iffy to me. As for the eels, I will pass, thank you very much. I like squid and oysters, but eel? What does it taste like, Debbie?

nikkinikkinikki72 said...

Yucky eels. Hate them.
We have a shop like this around the corner but have never been in. I'd probably like it but prefer a bit of spice or an italian.

nikkinikkinikki72 said...

Ooh been to peckham too... lol.
Didnt see it but then i walk around with my head in the clouds... Lol

nikkinikkinikki72 said...

Oh yes, forgot to say, but i posted your picture today so you should have it tomorrow hopefully.
Nikki x

Judy C said...

Interesting. But being unused to stewed eels I can't imaging the taste.

Ara said...

Wow - thanks for posting an explanation... while I stayed in Greenwich for a few days, my friends and I searched out a traditional meal of Pie and Mash. We did not understand the Liquor and Eels part though (and I don't think we had tried it either)... but good to know! It was deliscious by the way!

Debbie said...

Casey, Eel is quite nice , Just white meat. That'a another East End delicacy Jellied Eels. I don't like the jelly, but the eels are nice. If you eat jellied eels you have to sort of suck the meat off the bone.

LOL Nikki, I bet the Boys catch Eels when they go fishing. The Pie & Mash shop is in Peckham Rye not in the High Street.

Ara that's where I born and raised in Greenwich..

Ara said...

Yes! That sounds familiar - I have a picture of myself in the store and a photo of the sign which clearly read "Pie and Mash with Liquor and Eels"! I'll see if I can find the photo when I get home tonight! How exciting - I LOVED Greenwich! We stayed at St. Christophers Inn I believe!

Witchkrafting with Kat said...

My Nan and Grandad used to live above the Eel and pie shop in Ealing London during the 2nd world war. The Eels quite often use to escape and try to head up the stair case to their flat! So my Dad hate Eels bless him! I am not too keen myself! But I do like mushy peas!

Mags Cassidy said...

I must say this is not a meal I have ever fancied but I did make a lot in miniature a couple of years ago as a commission for a lady that had recreated a 12th scale shop. I even did an eel in a case to go on the wall - it was great fun!
I have eaten eel when in Denmark and it was very nice but it was cold and part of the 'open sandwich' lunch that is so popular.

MiniKat said...

I have to leave off the liquor and the eels. Can't enjoy seafood due to allergic reactions. *sigh* Could still have a chip buddy though. ;-)

Katie said...

Thanks for explaining it Debbie....I can honeslty say I do Not remember eating Mash and Liquor. Now as for Shepard's Pie like Casey is talking about, I still eat that to this day!! I too would have to pass n the eels, lol!! Thanks for going into detail on how to eat them Debbie, Yuck! Suck the meat off the bone, Bah Hahaha!!! I'm more of a fish and chips kinda gal....with lots of vinegar!!!! LOL...and a kinder egg or two! BTW, finally ate my Lions bar, and had to call my Mom to tell her it was just like I remembered.....So GOOOD!!!!

Mercedes Spencer @ Liberty Biberty said...

Hi Debbie, It's breakfast time here in NZ...I shouldn't have looked at your blog! LOL! As always you mini food looks amazing just not so good for the appetite at breakfast time!
Mercedes

- Virpi said...

Thanks Debbie for stopping by my Kurjenpolvi-blog! I loved reading about the traditional working class food and am ready to give it a try if I ever go there! :O)

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