][1]It’s going to be a stretch but next week the blog is going to try and get through five days without mentioning either curry or pies. I should really try and get sponsorship or something. Anyway, until then . . .
Yesterday was a massive day for the country’s pie men after Maurice Irvine was announced the winner of the World Scotch Pie Championships.
After eleven years of trying, the fourth generation baker from Beith in Ayrshire triumphed over a field which included eight past champions.
And the 50-year-old was a relieved man after coming second, third and fourth in previous years.
Irvine, who has a production unit in Beith and shops in Beith, Dalry and Kilbirnie, employs 45 people.
The award has come at a great time for the award-winning baker. He said: ‘January is a slack time for bakers and this is a massive boost. I’ve won awards before for a number of products, but this is the big one.’
His great, great grandfather Thomas started the business in the 1920s and it was carried on by his grandfather Walter and father Thomas who retired 20 years ago.
Maurice steadfastly refused to divulge the recipe for his pies but did say that ‘They have good seasoning but the pies entered were the same pies that went on sale in the shops on the day of the judging in November. I’ve been entering this competition for eleven years and have been second, third and fourth.
‘This is wonderful news.’
Irvine’s of Beith normally make around 60 dozen pies a day and Maurice expects to increase that order substantially once word of the win gets out.