Double pie win for Scotch Butchers Club member

A Scotch Butchers Club member in Deeside has swept the board in the Scottish Craft Butchers’ Pie Competition for the first time in its history.

HM Sheridan in Ballater was today (Wednesday 31st August) dubbed as the best pie maker in the country, taking the top prize for their Traditional Steak Pie and for their venison and Cranberry pie in the Speciality category.

The Deeside butcher was named best from an original field of more than 160 entries, which were all tested for appearance, flavour, filling and appeal. Five regional finalists were then visited by a mystery shopper and their pies were then subjected to final scrutiny at Scotland’s Cook School at Kilmarnock.

HM Sheridan business partners John Sinclair and Barry Florence have Royal Warrants for supplying Her Majesty The Queen and HRH The Prince of Wales and they were delighted to receive this further recognition of their products.

Mr Sinclair said: “The success has really been earned by our pie makers Kimberley Menzies and David McSkimming. They take great care in what is produced and pies have become a very important part of our business.

“This double success is unbelievable - everyone in the shop and every customer is absolutely thrilled.”

Laurent Vernet, Head of Marketing with Quality Meat Scotland which runs the Scotch Butchers Club, sponsors of the Steak Pie Evaluation, congratulated the butchers on the quality of their entries.

He said: “Scotch Beef, with its acclaimed European PGI status, is renowned throughout the world for its flavour. This year we are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the quality assurance schemes which underpin the Scotch Beef label, as well as Scotch Lamb and Specially Selected Pork, and guarantee the quality and welfare behind its production.

“It is wonderful that our butchers can combine both innovative and traditional skills to produce products such as these mouth-watering, top quality steak pies which make the most of our wonderful Scotch Beef.”