Sorry to bring politics into a silly cooking show that I like watching; but with the theme this year being "British Movies", it's only natural for Harry Potter to be included alongside Wallace & Gromit and James Bond... But I can't help but feel my heart sink whenever there is a HP dish that pops up.

It's just the book's author, JK Rowling, has been a huge proponent on the crippling rights for trans people in the UK - making it harder to just live our lives in this forsaken country (alongside several other reasons)... The popularity of the series has enabled such unjustified hate on people who means no harm and given the means for said author to cause damage just because the black mold told her to! And for someone like me: it just sours my feelings on Harry Potter, and I feel those dishes is furthering the popularity.

Anyways, great dishes shown, amazing cooking. These feelings have are dumb in this context. Thanks for reading this uncalled-for vent! 🙃

#greatbritishmenu

Michelin-starred chef to help serve up the ‘Best ever pub pie in Wales’

Tom Shepherd is sharing his secret pie recipe for the first time ever, giving Marston’s customers up and down the country the chance to enjoy a new version of a favourite pub dish, inspired by his banquet-worthy original.

The Best Ever Pub Pie will be available to order in over 100 Marston’s pubs, including 17 in Wales, for 12 weeks, from 17 April.

In South West Wales it will be available at The Mary Dillwyn in Fforestfach, Swansea, The Pheasant in Bridgend, Rose and Crown in Porthcawl and Lost Coins in Withybush, Haverfordwest.

The triple-layered pie is filled with hand-pulled beef cheek, caramelised onions, and roast potatoes, all encased in a luxurious beef fat shortcrust pastry. The pie will be served with seasonal vegetables, creamy mashed potato and a rich red wine sauce. 

Tom Shepherd is an award-winning chef, restaurateur, and entrepreneur and owns the Staffordshire based, Michelin-starred restaurant Upstairs by Tom Shepherd. Tom appeared on Great British Menu in 2023, winning the main course round and the chance to cook his pie at the coveted banquet.

Tom has been working closely with the Marston’s development team to make sure that the pie is as close as possible in flavour and appearance as his iconic dish.

Chef Tom Shepherd said: “I’m so excited to be partnering with Marston’s to give as many people as possible the chance to try my secret recipe. I have been asked to share the recipe a lot, but it hasn’t felt like the right partnership, until now!

“For me, when I think of the pub, I think of a good pie, so I was delighted to have the chance to work with the Marston’s team to bring this pie to life. I can’t wait to see what people think. The Best Ever Pub Pie will only be on the menu for 12 weeks, so don’t miss out!”

Claire Robertson, Director of Operations at Marston’s, said: “Pies are some of the most popular dishes across our menus, but we wanted to do something extra special and when Tom Shepherd agreed to share his recipe, we were thrilled.

“We’ve worked really hard together to create the most delicious dish possible, it’s rich, decadent and absolutely delicious. We can’t wait to introduce The Best Ever Pub Pie to customers across the UK, giving as many people as possible the chance to try my recipe from the 17th of April.”

#chef #Fforestfach #foodDrink #GreatBritishMenu #Haverfordwest #MarstonSBrewery #MichelinStar #pies #Porthcawl #pub #restaurant #Swansea #TomShepherd #Withybush

As much as I mostly enjoy the community on #Mastodon, I do sometimes miss the ability to search for a pop culture topic (like an ongoing TV show) and mindlessly scroll through comments about it.

Every time I yield to that nostalgia, though, I get cured of it a little bit more. Within seconds of a recent search for #GreatBritishMenu on a popular social media site, I found:
* Posts complaining about a wildcard entry being awarded to a chef of Asian descent;
* presumptions that said chef identifies as a Muslim because of their name and skin colour; and
* racist sarcasm about a Muslim and a South African fighting to cook a main course in a British competition.

It was genuinely surprising to see representation in GBM of Trans people in form of a dish dedicated to the first Trans Woman who got bottom surgery in the UK… The dish itself flopped; but it’s the thought that counts!  

#greatbritishmenu #trans #transgender #transwoman