When it comes to their team, loyalty overcomes good judgement for many (probably most) football supporters. But is this also true when it comes to the pies they eat?
The HandCNews.com Football Pie League is busy demonstrating the passion that supporters around the country have for their favourite pies.
In the spirit of scientific enquiry, therefore, HandCNews.com travelled to Ipswich earlier this week to check out the credentials of their table-topping league leader – the famous ‘Portman Pie’.
The Portman Pie claims to be full of tender beef steak, cooked in Adnams ale in a specially created pastry crust which holds in the gravy and then melts in the mouth.
Created for Ipswich Town FC by Kentish Mayde (multiple award-winners themselves) using traditional ingredients and locally produced beef, this is a pie to be taken seriously and certainly lives up to the claims!
For any supporter running low on fuel, the Portman Pie is a certainty to re-charge their energy and put them in good voice for the game.
The Pie was sampled as part of a ‘Pie and Pint’ evening run to introduce Ipswich Town FC and its excellent facilities (see www.numberonevenue.co.uk) to business and other contacts.
Guests were introduced by chef David Carpenter of Kentish Mayde to a very tasty selection of their pies, including vegetarian. And Fergus Fitzgerald, head brewer at Adnams, was also on hand to describe and introduce a range of their beers. As you may imagine, guests were quick to respond to such opportunities, and thoroughly enjoyed testing the high quality products on offer.
And the football?
Unlike the ‘quality ride’ offered by Portman Pie and Adnams Ale, Ipswich Town decided to wake us up with a ‘roller-coaster’ of a match: looking comfortable and in control early on, they fell behind 2-1 by half time, went further behind early in the second half, then came back to a fighting 3-3 draw!
This was an evening where good food, drink and football combined to present compelling entertainment, and our thanks go to the Ipswich Town FC conference and hospitality team for a very enjoyable evening.
HandCNews.com were also at Old Trafford this week to see Manchester United and Chelsea fight it out for a place in the semi final of the Champions league, Manchester United won, but how did their pie offering measure up…more next week
For more on the HandCNews.com Football Pie League click here