What is inside the unusual British dish stargazy pie?

Stargazy pie (sometimes called starrey gazey pie, stargazey pie and other variants) is a Cornish dish made of baked pilchards (sardines), along with eggs and potatoes, covered with a pastry crust. In 2007 contestant Mark Hix won the BBC’s Great British Menu with a variant of the dish.

Who eats stargazy pie?

Eating a pie full of fish heads is not to everyone’s taste; it’s a very special tradition for this little village in Britain. Variations on the pie are served throughout England, but every Stargazy pie can be traced back to one small fishing community and its story of how it avoided famine in the 1500s.

Who invented stargazy pie?

Jack Guard is a 95-year-old Mousehole man who’s lived in the port for decades. While he sits in his cottage and updates his Facebook (really), I speak to him about his now-deceased wife who, he says, actually invented the Stargazy Pie back in the ’60s.

When was stargazy pie invented?

16th century
Stargazy pie originated in the 16th century in Mousehole, a coastal village in the rugged southwestern county of Cornwall, England. Back then, residents got by on the bounty of the sea that their local fishermen were able to bring back.

Do people eat stargazy pie?

It’s comprised of a savory custard baked into a double piecrust, with a ring of whole sardines poking their angelic heads starward through the top crust. The town is decorated with illuminated pie decorations and sardine-shaped lanterns, and everyone eats stargazy pie by the scoopful.

What is the key ingredient in stargazy pie?

Stargazy pie (sometimes called starrey gazey pie, stargazey pie and other variants) is a Cornish dish made of baked pilchards (or sardines), along with eggs and potatoes, covered with a pastry crust.

Is stargazy pie good?

Stargazy pie is one of the most famously weird and gross foods in British cuisine. But it’s actually pretty good. Like many of history’s great savory pies, it’s British, with origins dating back to the 16th century.

What is traditional British cuisine?

British traditional food is full breakfast, Fish and Chips, the Sunday Roast, Steak, Kidney Pie, Shepherds Pie, Bangers, and Mash. Each place has come up with regional dishes like fish and chips, Yorkshire pudding, Cumberland sausage, Arbroath Smokie, and Welsh Cakes.

Do you eat the fish heads in stargazy pie?

Stargazy pie is a fish pie made in Mousehole, West Cornwall, England, near Penzance. The pie has a top crust. You don’t eat the heads or tails of the fish in the pie; you just pick them out and discard them. Some versions of the pie decorate the top of the pie with piecrust stars as well.

What are the stars in the traditional Cornish stargazy pie?

Whether the legend about the fisherman is true, the traditional recipe for stargazy pie is said to use mainly sardines or include seven different fish, including sardines, dogfish, eel, herring and mackerel, among others, supposedly representing the types of fish the fisherman caught.

Why is Chicken Tikka Masala the national dish of England?

It is widely considered the country’s national dish, and in 2001 British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook gave a speech in which he hailed chicken tikka masala as a symbol of modern multicultural Britain. The masala sauce was added to satisfy the desire of British people to have their meat served in gravy.”

Why is British food so plain?

Cold climate countries tend to grow fewer vegetables, herbs and spices. This means that selection and choices were once quite limited. But, England does have lots of cows and sheep. As a result, it was once almost a point of British culture to use every part of the animal available.

What is a stargazy pie?

Eating a pie full of fish heads is not to everyone’s taste; it’s a very special tradition for this little village in Britain. Variations on the pie are served throughout England, but every Stargazy pie can be traced back to one small fishing community and its story of how it avoided famine in the 1500s.

Why do they put pilchards in pie crust?

Critically, the pilchards must retain their heads, which then poke through the pastry top, appearing to gaze at the stars. The position of the fish allows the oil that is released during cooking to drain into the pie, adding a fuller flavour and ensuring the pie is moist.

Why do Cornish people eat Tom Bawcock pie?

As with many parts of Cornish heritage, a legend has appeared about its origins. In this case, the pie is served to celebrate the bravery of Tom Bawcock, a local fisherman in the 16th century. The legend explains that one winter had been particularly stormy, meaning that none of the fishing boats had been able to leave the harbour.

What is the origin of Bawcock pie?

The pie originates from the fishing village of Mousehole in Cornwall. As with many parts of Cornish heritage, a legend has appeared about its origins. In this case, the pie is served to celebrate the bravery of Tom Bawcock, a local fisherman in the 16th century.