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Jim & Margaret Hodge and their daughters
Amanda & Lynn from The Mill Inn at Mungrisdale launched
a new family business, The Pie Mill, in May this year.
The pies they have produced at the pub since 2001 have proved
so popular it seemed a natural expansion to set-up the new
business.
It was a year in the making, which involved research, planning
and fitting-out their bakehouse in a unit at the Blencathra
Business Centre at Threlkeld Quarry. During this time they
received valuable advice and grant assistance from LEADER+,
Distinctly Cumbrian and Business Link, which all helped to
achieve their goal.
In a dream start to the new business Amanda was crowned 'National
Steak Pie Champion 2005' in the English Beef & Lamb Executive's
(EBLEX) national competition just a week before the launch.
Amanda triumphed in a nerve-racking final cook-off round
in London. Hugh Judd foodservice project manager for EBLEX,
said "the standard of entry in this competition was incredibly
high and Amanda's Blencathra Pie was outstanding with its
succulent and rich filling of Cumbrian Galloway Beef marinated
in local Ale. Cooked-off with wild mushrooms and veal stock
and then wrapped in a home-made shortcrust pastry. Just delicious!"
The Blencathra is one of nine pies all named after Cumbrian
fells and the Hodge family take great pride in using quality
meat & ingredients which have been sourced locally.
All the pies are quite different, for example, Swindale is
made with wild venison, pheasant & rabbit in a rich red
wine gravy, Grizedale is local pork and Cumberland sausage
with apple & cider and Souther is made with local lamb,
cooked gently in spices with apricot
To help promote the new business they have attended local
shows and really enjoyed meeting others who are producing
good Cumbrian food and have found new suppliers for some of
their ingredients. They have just won another award from North-West
Fine Foods for the best pie. This is a new pie, the Wasdale,
which is made using locally-bred herdwick lamb.
The pies are now also available on the internet (www.piemill.co.uk),
at the Mill Inn (017687 79632), or from some local farm shops
- for details ring 017687 79994.
Please click on the links below to view other
projects of the month:
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