I had a sudden craving for pie and mash today, as served in the best traditional pie and mash shops. It was probably because the weather was cold with blustery wind and rain. Unfortunately London is a bit far to go, despite the craving so I’ll have to wait until my next trip.

Pie and mash shops were (and in parts, still are) a real staple of South, and East London life.

In the 18th and 19th Centuries these areas were populated, mostly by the working classes. Food providers had to offer robust dishes at reasonable prices to persuade customers to buy their wares.

The eel, caught in the River Thames was a cheap food, and minced meat baked in a pie with a side dish of mashed potato was very cheap to produce. Parsley sauce, known as, added a richer flavour and juiciness to the slightly bland, dry pie and mash. As many shops bake their own pies and make their own mash, each has it’s own special flavour.

The combination of pie, mash and liquor was an absolute hit, hence it’s survival today.

Most pie and mash shops were or are family businesses. Goddard’s Pie Shop in Greenwich was founded in 1890 by Albert Goddard and run as a family business through the generations to 2006/7. I believe it has now closed. M Manzes is the longest standing pie and mash outlet and once had five shops. Three remaining Manze pie and mash outlets in London are run by family members.

Modern pie and mash shops still look traditional from the outside and many still retain the blue green décor, wooden seats and marble table tops. The basic one or two pies, mash and liquor menus have expanded to include gravy, a range of pies, including vegetarian or curried, and pudding pies such as apple or plum.

If you are in, or planning a trip to London see

http://www.londoneats.com/search/bestworst.asp?WhichFoodType=Pie+and+Mash

http://www.londoneats.com/search/dosearch.asp?Rest_FoodType=Pie%20and%20Mash