Butcher V Baker Scotch Pie Bake-off at Royal Highland Show

A butcher and a baker will go head-to-head in a Scotch Pie Bake-off in the Scotch Kitchen at the Royal Highland Show this week.

Award-winning Bathgate butcher Paul Boyle will take on John Gall of Kilmarnock-based Brownings the Bakers in the challenge set to take place in the Quality Meat Scotland cookery theatre at 12.40 pm on Thursday 22nd June.

The pair have over 80 years of combined experience in their respective trades and the bake-off promises to be a fabulous opportunity for show-goers to enjoy watching the traditional skills of both, as well as witnessing the keen spirit of competition between both competitors.

The aim of the “bake-off” will be to produce the Scotch Pie (made using either Scotch Beef PGI or Scotch Lamb PGI) which most impresses competition judge, leading chef Lady Claire Macdonald.

“The ‘Scotch Pie Bake-off’ promises to be one of the highlights of our Scotch Kitchen action at this week’s Royal Highland Show,” said Graeme Sharp, QMS Marketing Executive.

“While there is sure to be lots of good natured banter between our butcher and baker, both are incredibly proud of their Scotch Pies and will be very determined to win!

“The pair will be judged on the taste and appearance of the pies they produce in front of the audience on the stand and the good news is they will be bringing a good supply of pies for show-goers to sample!”

Both competitors have a long heritage in their respective trades. Brownings the Bakers currently holds the title of World Scotch Pie champions. The family-run business was established in 1945 by the grandparents of the current Managing Director, John Gall.

John Gall is a past president of trade association, Scottish Bakers, and butcher Paul Boyle is the current president of the Scottish Federation of Meat Traders Associations.

Paul Boyle runs two acclaimed butchers’ shops in Boghall and Broxburn and has previously held the coveted title of World Scotch Pie Champion. His business is a member of QMS’s Scotch Butchers Club and won Scottish Butchers Shop of the Year in 2015.

Paul’s father, William, started the business in 1975 and Paul entered the business after first training as a chef and working for five years at the North British Hotel in Edinburgh (now The Balmoral Hotel).

Presenter Bryan Burnett will be commentating on the bake-off and there will be an opportunity for the audience to ask questions to the duo, who will also be highlighting the career opportunities which exist in their respective trades.

For further press information please contact Carol McLaren, on 0131 472 4112 or mobile: 07739 900653, email: cmclaren@qmscotland.co.uk.