The current holder of the title of World Scotch Pie Champion has teamed up with a Cattle Society in Dumfries and Galloway to launch a new product to celebrate one of the oldest and purest of Scotland’s native cattle breeds.
Dubbed The Galloway pie, it was created by Dumfries baker Kerr Little of The Little Bakery, who was named the World Scotch Pie Champion last month, and is the first Galloway Cattle Society accredited product to be developed as part of the Real Galloway Beef quality assurance scheme, which aims to improve consumer access to Galloway Beef.
Established in 1877, the society is tasked with responsibility for protecting, managing and growing the Galloway breed.
Baker Kerr, who originally ran butchery businesses and has extensive knowledge of meat product development, as well as a growing reputation as one of Scotland’s top pie makers, said the pie incorporates succulent quality assured Real Galloway Beef in a rich, traditional gravy, encased in a scotch pie shell with a puff pastry top.
The project was in part funded by the Scottish Government and the European Union’s LEADER 2014-2020 programme, and was launched last week at the Galloway Sale, Scotland’s major Galloway cattle event, where it sold out following high demand from the farmers from all over the UK who were attending the sale.
Delighted by the reception to the new product, champion baker Kerr said: “Galloway beef is truly exceptional and it has been a privilege to work with the Galloway Cattle Society in developing a pie that showcases the succulent, flavoursome nature of the beef.”
Dorothy Goldie, secretary of the Galloway Cattle Society, added: “Part of our LEADER funded ‘Defining Galloway Beef’ project is about working with industry partners to make Galloway Beef identifiable and more accessible for consumers.
“Creating a Galloway pie seemed like an ideal way to kick start our supply chain development project. Kerr’s pie making skills are well known and his pies are a real highlight at local events and farmers’ markets.
“Working with him was an obvious way to make Real Galloway Beef more accessible to people.”
