Now I actually haven't had a pie for a little while now but earlier while I was having a look online for some new recipes to try out I came across a picture of one. I then remembered that there is one more of my favourites in the freezer. Score!
One of the very few/only prepared pies I can eat are from a company called Clive's. They are a company specialising in strictly Vegetarian recipes, most of which are Vegan but a handful do contain Cheese or Eggs. They originate from a man called Clive who used to make about 100 Cheese and Vegetable, and Mushroom Pies then distribute them around the town on his bike. Now bought by a husband and wife who built the old woolen mill where they are based, into what it is today with a development towards the Gluten Free side of the bakery.
Today I shall review this product, a classic British dish for a not so classic British girl!
Availability of Product:
Clive's Pies are available in just a handful of main retailers, most of which are online unfortunately. Making it a little hard to get hold of them. Usually I try to wait until the freezer is practically empty then I do an Ocado order, ordering about 4 or 5 Pies at a time.
They do however stock a select few of their products in Holland & Barrett, it isn't the full range. Although they supply a mean Mushroom & Leek Pie twin pack that I actually can't buy on Ocado so that's a bonus. If I'm ever in dire need of a bit of Pie and Mash, they are only ever 10 minutes away, therefore I can't complain too much!
I wish they could stock in the supermarkets, although I can understand why they might not. Supplying Holland & Barrett is one thing, but a Sainsbury's or Tesco is a little extreme. Especially when they come fresh.
7/10
Easiness of Cooking:
For these you just need a little more patience than most of the other products I have reviewed. Although they come chilled and ready to eat, they can be frozen which is really handy. It means that I always have something to turn to when I need a British dinner fit for a Gluten Free Vegan Queen. From frozen the Pies take about 45 minutes to cook in the oven, which to me sounds like a long time. Though considering it sometimes takes me half an hour to chop Vegetables it really isn't long at all.
I used to avoid having them when I had finished work just because the thought of waiting about an hour, after preheating the oven. When really, it is a brilliant meal to have when you have no energy to prepare anything whatsoever. One of the least needy meals as you put it on a tray and wait, then take it out and plate it. Even lazier than some of my lazy recipes!
The only thing that I will comment on here is the getting it out of it's foil when it is cooked. Sometimes it is impossible without, a, burning yourself or b, ending up with a splattered Pie. I mean it all goes down the same way, tasting just as good though I like a little presentation before eating!
I've never eaten them cold, as I have always put them straight in the Freezer and I'm not sure I'd want them straight out of the fridge. To me a Pie is something steaming hot and goes with Veg & Potatoes, so it's hard to get my head around that one!
9/10
Quality of Taste: I have tried a few of the different flavours over the years, my favourite most recently being the Mushroom & Leek. To begin with, I couldn't have that one due to them placing a holly design on the top which required Yeast. Well that's what I was told anyway, it makes sense as none of the other Pies had designs and none of the others contained Yeast. However the single pack Mushroom Pie doesn't contain it anymore, whereas the twin pack does. Sometimes I lose the intolerance, of course only when my body is ok with it, I'm careful and ensure I don't eat too much Yeast. Giving myself breaks when I need to.
Moving on, or back to the topic. My favourite flavours, in order are; Mushroom & Leek; French Cassoulet; Vegetable Chilli; and if I have to put it on there Lentil & Olive. As you know from my blogs, I love Mushrooms. Strange really because when I was given a Chicken & Mushroom Pie when I was younger, I would actually pick every single piece of Mushroom out. Now, I would comb through and pick out the Chicken, Cream Sauce and the Pastry, strange how circumstance and willpower changes your mindset so drastically!
Here are my thoughts on each flavour in order:
- The Mushroom & Leek has a wonderful creamy flavour, not the traditional white cream sauce but more of a creamy brown sauce. Bringing more of a wet filling to the pastry which can be a little chalky sometimes. I love this Pie with some Roast Potatoes or Wedges and some Gravy, reminds me of dinners when I was younger. I put Gravy on everything!
- The French Cassoulet is brilliantly Tomatoey, full of Beans, Vegetables and Herbs. Bringing a warming flavour to the pastry, somewhat drier than the Mushroom Pie yet still packed full of flavour and tomatoey goodness. I don't mind eating this with just some fresh Vegetables on the side as they bring a bit more moisture and a kick of fresh healthiness that is sometimes needed with heavy dishes!
- The Vegetable Chilli was actually the first one that I tried. When I started out with these intolerances, I was still pretty fussy and this one sounded like something I'd like, I actually steered away from the French Cassoulet for some reason! I think maybe I chose it as it contains the most Vegetables of them all so I thought it would be healthier and I recognised most of the ingredients? I don't know, it is actually kind of spicy and for me not having a great set of tastebuds for spice I don't enjoy it as much as the others. I also find the mixture to be a little dry and where I like to have it with a bit of gravy, the flavours don't really allow for that combination. Having said all that, it still is a good Pie with flavoursome Vegetables seasoned well and they completely fill it right up to the top!
- The Lentil & Olive one is just not my cup of tea. I'm sure I've said this before but I'll say it again. No matter how many times and ways I try Olives I just can't convince myself to like them. People say, it just takes one time for you to like them. Well, that I think is just not true for me! I revert back to my childish ways with this Pie, only instead of Mushrooms I pick out the Olives, making it pointless to have it. I'm sure if you like Olives it is a great Pie, I just can't do it!
The Pastry itself is pretty standard for a Gluten free Pastry. It is a little dry and chalky with quite a crunch to some parts, although having said that I like it. It is still a good quality base for the Pie and all the ingredients sit well without seeping out of the sides. My favourite part is that I can easily take the lid off and eat it on the side, for some reason I have always done this with Pies. I really enjoy eating the top with a bit of Gravy as it is the crunchiest bit of the not-so-golden Pastry. The lower part that is baked under the foil is better, as it is slightly doughier and sits well with the wetness of the filling.
7/10
Overall I really enjoy eating these Pies, they remind me of my picky days and are a great quick dinner on a cold rainy day. It is always a good day when I can indulge in a Gravy lake with a side of Pie!
Give it a go, they're not too expensive and you could start off with trying one from Holland & Barrett rather than needing to spend over £40 on Ocado! I promise you won't be disappointed!
Happy #Veganuary Day 22!