Arthur Binley of Barnsley

The Pie Munchers were keen to make an early start to the new year - not waiting until the traditional Sunday chomp, we set off for Cromer to sample a Arthur Binley’s pork pie from Barnsley, kindly supplied by Staci, on Saturday the 1st. We started a little later than usual, as the plan was to take in the fireworks on Cromer pier at 17:00. Parking on Howard’s Hill, we headed west over Roundabout Hill before heading south, down Green’s Lane. We passed through Cromer Cemetery, seeing some tacky gravestones before entering into Felbrigg Great Wood. Here the Walk Master magically navigated, unaided, through this woodland to bring us to Felbrigg Hall, where we had our lunch on the picnic tables by the walled garden. Following lunch, we then picked up Weaver’s Way, heading north, back to Cromer, passing Cromer Zoo and Cromer Hall. No Canapés this week, so straight into the pie: It had a rather uninspiring external appearance. The pie was sliced into six, as there were only five of us, and released little in the way of aroma, but hinting of Pork Cheese. The bright pink filling with little jelly was tasty but nothing special. The pie had been purchased some time ago, so we discounted the fact that the bland crust was not as crisp as it might have been. Our first pie of the year was judged to have a score of 6.4 and the standard deviation was 1.18322. The pie master had also brought “Holly Lane” deep filled mice pies from Aldi. These found favour with the munchers – some having a second pie.

Roll mouse over picture to see uncut pie

We then made our way to the sea front to enjoy a very good firework display on the pier, and from rafts on the sea. Perhaps not as large as the London fireworks, but very good and at a far more civilised hour!

Hand held exposures using the pie camera

Jim's Peak District Pie

Staci supplied the last pie of the year: from New Close Farm Shop in Derbyshire. But before we could start munching on this Peak District, Porky Delight, we had six miles of yomping to do around “Kett’s Country”. Starting from Bracon Ash village hall, our first port of call was St. Nicholas church, Bracon Ash, without tower or scratch dial. We then ventured on towards Hethel, passing ' Hethel Old Thorn' observing a hunting barn owl, before coming to All Saints church with its mausoleum to the Branthwaite family and monument to the USAAF 389th Bombardment Group. Onward, passing near the Lotus car factory then turning south, passing a field with a fox mawkin, to Wreningham via Penny’s Green, eventually reaching our lunch stop at another All Saints church. Unfortunately locked, but it did have a scratch dial to add to our collection. Fortified, we headed back to the car, resisting the temptation of the 'Bird in Hand' however, the Walk Master again produced another “bar in a car” with a different selection of tipples including “Prune Brandy” from Transylvania! This was supplemented by the Pie Masters Blackberry Whisky. Now onto the pie... a uniform pie with glossy pastry, its large vent hole revealed that this pie was nicely jellied. Cutting the pie revealed a good-looking pink interior with little aroma. The meat filling was pleasant and not improved by the addition of mustard. Unfortunately the pie was let down by the chewy, non-lardy, piecrust, perhaps the result of storage in its plastic wrapper. The pie therefore, only scored a spot on 7.5 with a reasonably high standard deviation of 0.86603. Quality Street & Italian Amaretti biscuits concluded the last pie munching of 2008.