Stargazy pie is a pastry-based fish pie which, by tradition, is filled with whole pilchards. Critically, the pilchards must retain their heads, which then poke through the pastry top, appearing to gaze at the stars.
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.
What are the stars in Cornish Stargazy pie?
Eugene P. Sardines are commonly the main ingredient in stargazy pie. Stargazy pie is a type of fish pie that originated in the town of Mousehole in Cornwall, England.
Do you eat the fish 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.
Who invented fish pie?
The Fish Pie, also known as a Fisherman’s Pie ( because the topping is similar to that of shepherd’s pie, in that it uses mashed potatoes.), is a traditional British dish, said to have originated in Scotland. In earlier times, fish was eaten to honour the Roman goddess Venus.
Is there such a thing as Blackbird pie?
Blackbirds were once eaten though their meat is said to be rather bitter. Blackbird pie is immortalised in the nursery rhyme ‘Sing a Song of Sixpence’: Sing a song of sixpence/Four and twenty blackbirds/Baked in a pie/When the pie was opened/The birds began to sing/Wasn’t that a dainty dish/To set before the king.
Is The Mousehole Cat a true story?
The Mousehole Cat is a children’s book written by Antonia Barber and illustrated by Nicola Bayley. Based on the legend of Cornish fisherman Tom Bawcock and the stargazy pie, it tells the tale of a cat who goes with its owner on a fishing expedition in rough and stormy seas.
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.
What fish is a pilchard?
sardines
pilchard, a species of sardine (q.v.) found in Europe. It is the local name in Great Britain and elsewhere. Pilchards, or European sardines (Sardina, or Clupea, pilchardus).
Did Egyptians have pies?
Pie has been around since the ancient Egyptians. The crust of the pie was referred to as “coffyn”. There was actually more crust than filling. Often these pies were made using fowl and the legs were left to hang over the side of the dish and used as handles.
Who invented cherry pie?
Queen Elizabeth I
Who invented the cherry pie? Fruit pies became popular in the 1500s. The first cherry pie was prepared for Queen Elizabeth I.
Did they really bake birds in pies?
Well in medieval times the way they made pie crusts was a little different than in present time. So these birds were not actually cooked in the pie.
What is the history of stargazy pie in Cornwall?
The small fishing village of Mousehole, Cornwall gives us one of our best food legends. Andrew Webb investigates. The history of Stargazy Pie would make a great action movie. It is said to have been created in Mousehole, Cornwall (pronounced mow-zul) in honour of a brave fisherman called Tom Bawcock.
Where does Mousehole Pie come from?
On Tom Bawcock’s Eve it is served in The Ship Inn, the only pub in Mousehole, sometimes after a re-enactment of the legend. 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.
Could stargazy pie make a great action movie?
Andrew Webb investigates. The history of Stargazy Pie would make a great action movie. It is said to have been created in Mousehole, Cornwall (pronounced mow-zul) in honour of a brave fisherman called Tom Bawcock. Legend has it that Tom sailed out into a violent stormy sea to fish when the village was facing starvation.
What is a stargazy pie made of?
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.
