Ian Wright and Thierry Henry double wins the North London Derby
We were invited by Paul and Nicky, proprietors of Piebury Corner to attend the North London Derby last Sunday. An offer we were only too glad to accept, as Arsenal Spurs is one of those games that every football fan should take in at some point.
We arrived at Arsenal station at midday and Gillespie Road was already heaving with fans. The stalls and shops were doing a brisk trade and we walked a few hundred yards down the road to be greeted by Robin Van Persie, a life size wooden image welcoming us to Piebury Corner, the road sign is also cleverly re named on match days.
Paul met us with a warm welcome and his wife Nicky who was busy piling pies into the serving counter was equally welcoming and greeted us with a big smile. During the day everyone visiting was made to feel welcome the same way and a real sense of community was evident. The customers were simply enjoying belonging to something very Arsenal.
As we stood talking with Paul and Nicky fan traffic to Piebury Corner was continuous, at times queues formed that seemed all too knowingly content to wait. Locals as well as people from Norway, Japan and other counties were busy taking about and taking pictures of their pie community. Paul was constantly talking to the regulars as well as giving out tourist information to new visitors, all seemed keen to talk with the man who created Piebury Corner.
We were introduced to quite a few of the Piebury Corner Facebook faithful who have been voting with enthusiasm for Arsenal through Piebury Corner to win The Football Pie League. One guy Frank Jock-Gooner Greenan even wrote a song which can be seen on our Facebook page to celebrate his beloved Piebury Corner.
Now, the most important part of our trip…The Pie.
I decided to try the ‘Thierry Henry’, venison in red wine with ‘Chippy Brady’ mini roast tatties, delivered on a sturdy paper plate with wooden knife and fork and a paper napkin. The pie was sliced open into four quarters, served at ideal temperature with big pieces of hearty venison in sumptuous red wine gravy wrapped in a case of perfect pastry. The roast tatties were crisp outside and fluffy inside, fantastic.
I had travelled with high expectations which were surpassed, the pie experience was truly exceptional, even if you don’t like football get yourself down there and try one…WOW what a pie.
So onto the small matter of Arsenal Spurs, where we witnessed a seven goal thriller. Tottenham started well and went 2-0 up but seemed to lose momentum after Robin Van Persie scored a wonder strike just before half time to level things at 2-2.
Arsenal then in an amazing 28 minutes went from 2-0 down to 5-2 up which is where the game ended, the Arsenal fans going through a roller coaster ride from despair to delirium within the same time frame.
By 90 minutes most of the Spurs faithful had left the ground and we walked back with the ecstatic Arsenal fans for the second half of our pie tasting at Piebury Corner.
This time we selected an Ian Wright, lamb and veg with a hint of mint, the verdict well I guess it is like asking who the better player was, Henry or Wright. Both were simply outstanding as players and are now as pies.
The strange thing at the match was I never saw anyone consume a pie inside the Emirates..? If Arsenal have any sense they will open transfer talks with Paul and Nicky immediately.
It is rumoured that on some match days a celebrity chef comes in to help, but this is so far unconfirmed. We will try and keep you posted…
Full details of The Football Pie League can be seen here