Ray Winstone Eats Humble Pie (and Mash)
Who’s got a reputation for villainy and a soft spot for pies? No, it’s not Sweeney Todd, it’s notorious cockney tough-nut Ray Winstone. The acclaimed actor, best known for his gangster roles, has teamed up with the ‘luxury pie & mash shop’ Battersea PIE Station to lend his name to a specially created steak & kidney pie….
By Nadia Alkahzrajie
As predicted by gastros in the know, the pie is where it’s at. While we can all appreciate the honesty of a good stew, accessorising it with a pastry ‘hat’ gives it a definitive edge. Pies are steeped in the liquor of our urban history, and, like all things that evoke the grit and glamour of our illustrious capital, pie & mash has a de-facto cool.
Traditional working-class grub, pie & mash shops have been fixtures of the east-end since blokes walked around with fob watches. Stewed eels also featured on the minimalist menu, and the stewing juices formed the ‘liquor’ originally served with pies – possibly the least fishy component of what lurked underneath that pastry lid.
If you can’t wait to sample pie soaked in eel gravy, then you might be in for a disappointment. Venues like Battersea PIE Station have thoroughly upgraded the pie shop, transplanting it to Covent Garden and using free-range meat to produce classic pies with a modern ‘twist’, such as game with smoky bacon and apple.
Although the venue is popular with celebs such as Kiefer Sutherland, die-hard pie & mash fan Ray Winstone is the perfect pie ambassador. With his old school charm and touch of rough, it’s Winstone who warms the old cockles, especially when 20% of all proceeds from The Winstone pie go to Thames Reach, a London homeless charity whose excellent work supports homeless people and those at a risk of homelessness.
Commenting on his pie, Ray Winstone said: “Having a classic British pie named after me is a real privilege. Let’s hope The Winstone steak and kidney goes down a treat with Battersea PIE Station customers.” Battersea PIE Station will be located at Lower Ground Floor, 28 The Market, Covent Garden, WC2E 8RA, with twenty two seats inside and six outside.