Pies v Pasties

Puskas · Post by **Puskas** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 3:13 pm

A few throwaway remarks on another topic have got me wondering, once again, as to what the essential difference between a pie and a pasty is.
I've considered the matter before, and the best guess I can come up with is something along the lines of pasties only requiring a single sheet of pastry - one that is folded around the filling - whereas pies require two - one for the base, and another for the lid.
I think these are topologically different, for any mathematicians out there, but I know far too little maths to be able to prove it - and my topology is particularly rusty.
And nor does it answer the question as to why pasties are better (consider the chant occasionally heard when playing Wigan, "I'd rather have a pasty than a pie...")
Any better definitions? And how would you take into account flans, quiches, crumbles, cottage pie and those casseroles in dishes with puff-pastry lids that get served as pies in pubs?

superjohnmcginlay · Post by **superjohnmcginlay** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 3:19 pm

Puskas wrote:A few throwaway remarks on another topic have got me wondering, once again, as to what the essential difference between a pie and a pasty is.
I've considered the matter before, and the best guess I can come up with is something along the lines of pasties only requiring a single sheet of pastry - one that is folded around the filling - whereas pies require two - one for the base, and another for the lid.
I think these are topologically different, for any mathematicians out there, but I know far too little maths to be able to prove it - and my topology is particularly rusty.
And nor does it answer the question as to why pasties are better (consider the chant occasionally heard when playing Wigan, "I'd rather have a pasty than a pie...")
Any better definitions? And how would you take into account flans, quiches, crumbles, cottage pie and those casseroles in dishes with puff-pastry lids that get served as pies in pubs?

Whoooaa there. Wrong way round. Heretic.

Puskas · Post by **Puskas** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 3:20 pm

superjohnmcginlay wrote:
Puskas wrote:A few throwaway remarks on another topic have got me wondering, once again, as to what the essential difference between a pie and a pasty is.
I've considered the matter before, and the best guess I can come up with is something along the lines of pasties only requiring a single sheet of pastry - one that is folded around the filling - whereas pies require two - one for the base, and another for the lid.
I think these are topologically different, for any mathematicians out there, but I know far too little maths to be able to prove it - and my topology is particularly rusty.
And nor does it answer the question as to why pasties are better (consider the chant occasionally heard when playing Wigan, "I'd rather have a pasty than a pie...")
Any better definitions? And how would you take into account flans, quiches, crumbles, cottage pie and those casseroles in dishes with puff-pastry lids that get served as pies in pubs?
Whoooaa there. Wrong way round. Heretic.

Wiganer!

superjohnmcginlay · Post by **superjohnmcginlay** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 3:22 pm

Sutherner!

ratbert · Post by **ratbert** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 3:25 pm

I only like meat and potato pie. A pasty wins every time!

David Lee's Hair · Post by **David Lee's Hair** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 3:25 pm

Work in Wigan at the moment, and I take great pleasure in getting Pasties!!! Oh yes!!

enfieldwhite · Post by **enfieldwhite** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 3:27 pm

I can sum it up like this.

Carr's Pasties are great. I haven't had another pastie that compares.

There are however, a multitude of pies that are fantastic.

So the Pies have it.

For the record, those abominations in Harvester's, Beefeaters and the like aren't pies. Pies have pastry all round. What they represent are the last resting place of lips, bums and horns of a variety of cattle, Bovine and Porcine with a pastry coffin lid.

Lord Kangana · Post by **Lord Kangana** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 3:31 pm

Add a poll!!

And FWIW, the best pies are those available opposite Burnden.

Pasties?Huh, I eat those as an Hors d'oeuvres....

Puskas · Post by **Puskas** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 3:38 pm

Lord Kangana wrote:Add a poll!!

And FWIW, the best pies are those available opposite Burnden.

Pasties?Huh, I eat those as an Hors d'oeuvres....

Good idea.
Although it doesn't really answer the initial question of the post, which was a generic definition to distinguish between pies and pasties. Or is the one piece of pastry/two pieces of pastry correct?

Lord Kangana · Post by **Lord Kangana** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 3:42 pm

I think you're about right - though I think its also to do with one being cooked in a tin(the pie), and one not having to be(the pastie).

You've got me interested, I'm going to do some digging....

Edit: Aye, it seems you're original theory(pasty one piece of pastry folded), combined with my pie-in-a-dish is the accepted difference.

And yes, work is slow today......

BwfcDan · Post by **BwfcDan** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 4:20 pm

Ooo i'd rather have a pasty than a pie
Ooo i'd rather have a pasty than a pie
Ooo i'd rather have a pasty
Rather have a pasty
Rather have a pasty than a pie!!

bobo the clown · Post by **bobo the clown** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 4:26 pm

A pasty, as said, is one piece of pastry, folded over the filling.

A pie is a pastry-base, filled, then having a top placed upon it.

The pie thus, somehow, seems to have the potential hold a more moist filling.

Overall, heretic I may be ... and Carr's vg pasty's notwithstanding ... but the pie's have it, for me.

#1. Greenhalgh's Meat & Potato
#2. Greenhalgh's Meat pies ... the ones with that very hot jelly which burns your mouth when you eat it !

Though I had a Mexican stand-off with a woman of the Chorley New Road branch a few weeks ago ; I asked for Meat & Potato & she, literally, would not sell it to me until I asked for Potato & Meat as she feared she would be breaking the Trade's Descriptions Act. I told her she was being ridiculous, she refused to serve me ... so I took option of changing my order to 2 Meat pies instead. This was after about 5 solid minutes of me telling her she was an eejit.

As I left, I asked her why they called a Potato Cake a cake, when it clearly was a savoury product & she told me I was banned ... for life .... .

My life is now complete. Banned from the Saddle. Banned from Tesco's ... now banned from a branch of Greenhalgh's.

BwfcDan · Post by **BwfcDan** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 4:39 pm

bobo the clown wrote:
As I left, I asked her why they called a Potato Cake a cake, when it clearly was a savoury product & she told me I was banned ... for life .... .

My life is now complete. Banned from the Saddle. Banned from Tesco's ... now banned from a branch of Greenhalgh's.

Oh well, Kirks pies on Blackburn road are better anyway.
But lets be honest the best pasties and pies come from Ye Olde Pastie Shoppe in town

I could eat them meat pies from there all day!!

jmjhb · Post by **jmjhb** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 4:42 pm

This thread is making me hungry.

BWFC_Wyles · Post by **BWFC_Wyles** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 4:44 pm

Ye Olde Pastie Shoppe pasties make this a non contest!!

Verbal · Post by **Verbal** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 4:58 pm

Pasties hands-down.

Batman · Post by **Batman** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 5:00 pm

pasties from the ye olde shoppe
pies from beefy bobs in bury

Lord Kangana · Post by **Lord Kangana** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 5:24 pm

Am I the only one who thinks Ye Olde Pastie Shoppe pasties taste like dog food then?

Puskas · Post by **Puskas** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 5:38 pm

Lord Kangana wrote:Am I the only one who thinks Ye Olde Pastie Shoppe pasties taste like dog food then?

Possibly. Or it could be that everyone else really likes dog food...

CrazyHorse · Post by **CrazyHorse** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 6:32 pm

Sausage roll anyone?

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