Day 3 - Sunday - Bray's Cottage Pork Pie - Pt 2

She'd fallen off her bike.  She had to walk home that night. Damp, dirty and unfulfilled.

I got the goods home and paused before throwing away two seventy five in a fit of hunger. These Brays know how to make a pie look like its home made.  The pastry was rough hewn and speckled with glaze and the overflowing juices from cooking.

I cut it open and was amazed - this was the good stuff - the first pie I'd seen in years that didn't look like the ingredients had been mixed together for a fortnight.  The centre was firm - not tough - and the pastry was short, short like a jockey at a basketball game.

The pastry crumbled when the blade cut in - this was a good sign.  I read more about the Brays here.

I was too pre-occupied with pie to think any further about the woman.  I need now to take the final step the one they'd all said could never be retraced.  A giant leap in pie consumption had hit this town a little after the Brays holed up here. I was going to be part of that now.  I checked the phone - no messages, I locked door and I put my .38 in easy reach.

This was a magnificent pie - the taste were subtle and smooth, the texture varied and never once hinted at gristle.  There was no jelly, no hint of bulking rusk or overcooked onion.  It was truly a wondrous filling.

And the pastry was so short I coulda been eating a sand castle: but my it tasted so good and complemented the pie exquisitely.

It was in the words of Times Food critic Giles Coren, "the most extraordinary pie I've ever known" and you know what the guy is right.  This is the best pie I've ever tasted.  Where could the rest of my week go, how was I gonna fill my time.

The phone rang, it was the women the pie shop,

"Yes?"
"It's me" I paused
"From this afternoon, in the shop. Remember?"
"Kinda.........how did you get this number?"
"The Brays."
"What the f.....how did they-"
"They know everything, pies only go to people they know will appreciate them"
"Hmmm, I can understand why, I just tasted it, it was incredible"
"Tastier than me?" her voice dropped an octave "I can pop round if you need to check."
"Nothing doing sweetheart" I said "I'll see you tomorrow when I come back for more, much more.....pie that is."

She slammed down the phone.

I thanked God for Brays Cottage Pork Pie.