Next week is British Pie Week, celebrating all that is hearty and pastry wrapped in British society. While I don’t cover most national food months, weeks or days – there are far too many to sensibly mention – British Pie Week introduces a nice event for Action Against Hunger, the international humanitarian organisation committed to ending child hunger.
Yes, there is something a little incongruous about a pork pie competition raising money for starving children but hey, if it helps raise money and stop child hunger for good then I am all for it.
The elegantly named Pork Pie Off takes place on Monday 2 March at the Princess Victoria pub and dining room in Shepherd’s Bush. A variety of chefs including Newman Street Tavern’s Peter Weeden, Aidan McGee of Maida Vale’s Truscott Arms, Social Eating House’s Paul Hood and Robin Gill of The Dairy will present their own versions of the traditional pork pie to a judging panel including Henry Harris of Racine, Rowley Leigh and Selfridges’ restaurants director Hannah Bass.
Pies will be tasted blind and the winning chef will see their pie crowned Pork Pie Champion and a number of the winning examples will be exclusively stocked in Selfridges on 7 and 8 March; you’ll be able to enjoy pie week without lifting a finger.
Tickets to the event are £10 per person and all proceeds will be donated to Action Against Hunger. The ticket includes acomplimentary Portobello Brewing Co Star beer on arrival and samples of the pork pie entries. Sipsmith Gin will be passing around samples of their Slow Gin and Damson Vodka should you still need reasons to go.
Further news about competing chefs and pie entries can be found by following @PVWestLondon and the hashtag #PVPorkPieOff on Twitter.
Tickets to the event can be bought from the Princess Victoria or calling 0208 749 5886.