Steak pie with big chunks of meat

Pukka Pie they have pinched the word Pukka meaning proper & good. The pie was crap. what I do is buy products that are just going out of date. so as with the pie I had not paid much for it. I can assure you that Pukka pies will not get any more of my money. I have told every one how crap it was, other than the box of course,that was good quality which leads me to believe that pukka pies management are smart @rse idiots. I hope the person on the filling machine relises that the WW2 defence of I was only obeying orders does not exhonerate him/her from this deception.

The company is currently being restructured, but the 'Denby Dale Pie Company' made the most fantastic steak and potato pies. It was price pressure from supermarkets unwilling to pay for good quality which ruined the company and I am more convinced than ever that most of the major supermarkets could not care less about the genuine quality of their products, preferring pretty boxes with product just barely able to meet the minimum of standards.

Sweeney Todd's make good tasty homemade pies but one has to mind the fingernails. Get a free shave and haircut next door.

Yes, it's all very well griping, we all know that supermarket pies are very poor and not worth buying, whatever you do don't buy Marks and Spencer ones or anything made in Ireland, BUT be practical, can anybody recommend a good pie that is widely available?

I know that you posted this to you vent some steam, but can I tell you that it made my day. I had tears streaming down my face after reading it, and had to stop half way thru to pay a visit to the loo because my bladder couldn't cope with the laughing! I have had a smile on my face for the last hour and a half, and still have a little chuckle about it! Thanks Pieman! hee hee :-)

In my opinion the best steak pies from a supermarket are Bell's Top Crust Steak pies which are made in Scotland. The trouble is they are only available in Scottish supermarkets!

Steak pies - no mushrooms, yuch - love them made with either short crust pastry or puff pasty, with or without a base - my big gripe is when eating out and pie comes with trimmings the whole plate is swamped with gravy, if I am having chips with the pie they end up all soggy, and ditto for the roast potatoes, fed up sending it back !! Please simply serve with a little jug of gravy and then one can pour over the amount of gravy you like and where you want it !!! Recently this happened to me when travelling home to Scotland from York and stopped in an out of the way place and the steak pie was delicious but honestly the gravy was like a puddle in the plate.

erm is it just me or do pies from anywhere outside the north of england not have a bottom?? this is my pie gripe........ a puff pastry lid slung on top of a bit of meat and gravy is no way ever ever ever a true and proper pie!!! aah glad to have got that off my chest thanks :) but it is true drives me mad!

Quality Queen: Okay, so can I buy a weeks worth of shopping for £20 from a local farmer or butcher? Probably not. That's what I survive on at the moment. Actually, I survive on a lot less than that and there are three of us. I understand your sentiments and if I had the money to burn I'd probably buy better quality food but I just can't afford it. I don't buy convenience food and ready meals by the way. I do buy fresh produce (when reduced in price). I actually managed to score a large pork joint (normally £6) for 90p the other day. We had a lovely roast with roasted potatoes (yes potatoes are cheaper bought from the farm - I've discovered that one). and pork sandwiches the next day (Fresh home made bread being cheaper!). We don't eat badly at all really, but we do rely on supermarkets to go bargain hunting and buy locally when its cheaper. Sorry, probably not very patriotic or supportive of our farmers but at the end of the day, charity begins at home - and we'll make it through the tough times without getting into debt thank you very much!

Steer clear of supermarkets if you want decent food instead support British farmers and buy at a good butcher or farm shop. A pie firm to recommend is 'Chunk of Devon Ltd' who make a delicious range of additive free pies with ample chunks and gravy. All ingredients come from known farmers and they are not too expensive. Supermarkets use cheap fillers because they buy in bulk from across other countries because they can, they also swindle our farmers !

E.Martin, that steak pie in the photo is actually from Tesco. I think its one of their £2.99 ones which probable explains the quality. Agree with others here though, make it yourself if you want a decent pie and it needn't cost the earth.

if you want a good steak pie you need to go out and have it cooked for you - look at http://huntingthepie.blogspot.com/