Pasty bits and pieces

Last year we went to Padstow on holiday. We love to arrive ahead of time, park, and wander - just what you need after a long journey. Our custom is to eat in on the first night and part of the “wander” is to check out where the nearest fish and chip shop is in relation to where we're staying. We had a fab house in New Street, just three doors up from St. Petroc's Bistro one of Rick Stein's restaurants. The chippy was literally a few yards further down the hill – if I'd have shouted our order they'd have heard me – result!

A small tip – don't order a Cornish Pasty from a chippy, I did and it was not a good experience. Hey ho, can't win 'em all. Never let it be said that I shirk my culinary duties and the next day I found The Chough Bakery, 3 The Strand, Padstow PL28 8AJ – on the Quayside. Chough is a small family run bakery and has been around for nearly 30 years – well qualified! I purchased a vegetarian Cornish Pasty, it was fantastic and wasn't the only one eaten during the week. You can always tell how good a bakery is by the queue. I also bought pasties to bring home.

Note to self – check out the local bakeries first!

During my research for this series I read that pasties keep hot for a long time – not rocket science I know – but apparently if you want them to keep hot even longer wrap them straight from the oven in either greaseproof or baking paper and then a clean tea towel. The story went on saying that a pasty made in Helston would still be “hot” when arriving in Exeter. Sounds a bit like a fairy story. It takes 2 hours to drive from Helston to Exeter and approximately 100 miles.

Whilst I didn't drive the distance I did wrap a pasty as it said and left it for two hours. Guess what … it does work and the pasty, whilst not piping hot was more than warm – sounds ridiculous, is there such a temperature between warm and hot?

I hope you've enjoyed this series on the humble pasty. Simple, tasty fare which deserves all its accolades. Perfect portable food!

I'm sure you won't be surprised to know that I've a few more “pasty” ideas for the portable food slot – watch this space.