Melton Mowbray Pork Pies

I recently was asked to photograph a Melton Mowbray Pork Pie factory in Leicestershire. We were taken round the plant by their Master Pie Maker Ian. He has been making pies for over 30 years, and I can safely say is still as passionate about a pie now as he ever has been.

A Melton Mowbray Pork Pie has to be made in the Vale of Belvoir, it must be baked unsupported, giving it the unique saggy bottom half shape. They only use cooked pork not cured. This gives the meat its grey look compared to the usual pink. It has a jelly lining between the pastry and the meat to help it travel. They used to throw the pastry away and just eat the meat.

The factory was very effecient and probably a long way from the days when it was first made for the hunt staff.  The factory is the largest employer in Leicester and makes a large range of pies for various supermarkets and shops.

We were quite restricted in what we were allowed to photograph as a lot of the machines are custom built for them and they do not want other producers seeing all of their secrets.

Once out of the main plant that is hyper clean, even had to disinfect our cameras ( a first for me) and in the R & D kitchen you can get to see that the tradition is still deep at the root of this company, just easy to lose sight of it amongst all the noisy busy machines.

Ian’s knowledge and sheer enjoyment in the pursuit of the perfect pie was infectious.