Competing chefs from around Ludlow, south Shropshire faced stiff competition to win the title of Ludlow’s best fidget pie matched with locally brewed ale or cider.

After much tasting, debate and marking, the Fidget Pie made by Jackie Limb of Moors Meals, a keen chef and regular stall holder on Ludlow’s Farmer’s Market was chosen as the winner. The tasting was done blind, with the pies identified by numbers only, not by the names of the chefs.

Jackie beat off competition from the Ludlow Pie Company, Ludlow Food Centre and from Jane Lloyd of Ludlow’s Courtyard restaurant. Her pie was highly praised by the judges including Will Holland, Michelin-starred chef of La Bécasse Kate Norman from Local to Ludlow, Ludlow cookery author Lesley Mackley, and TasteShropshire.com editor Bruce McMichael.

Bruce said: “The standard of pie making was very high, and each was very different in size, taste and flavour. Jackie’s pie was a lovely balance of sweetness from the apple, crispiness of the pastry and savoury notes from the gammon and cider.”

The competition is being run by Tish Dockerty co-ordinator of the Shropshire Farmers’ Market Marketing Campaign. She says, ‘Well we need to rediscover our own food heritage, the Cornish have their pasty (which recently received protective status!), well we have our own pie and it’s unknown to many people in Shropshire!”

All ingredients and the accompanying drink were sourced from within 30 miles of Ludlow. Tish says “We are also asking for the pie to be accompanied by a suitable ‘pint’ or bottle of real ale sourced within 30 miles of the market to which it is entered, we’ll have a fine assortment of real ales from across the region.”

Jackie choose a cider from Dunkerton’s Cider on the Herefordshire/Shropshire border to accompany her winning dish.

Farmers’ Markets in Shropshire are competing against one another to bring the best Shropshire Fidget Pie accompanied by a local real ale to the dinner table, the competition culminates at the Ludlow Food Festival this September where the overall winner from all of the markets’ will be judged and announced.

Jackie was thrilled to have cooked the winning pie. She said: “It’s very exciting. The challenge is a great idea and I am very much looking forward to being part of the final competition at the Ludlow food Festival this September.”

There are various theories as to from where Fidget Pie derives its name. There are many theories with many saying it’s from having ‘fitched’ or a five sided shape. But the truth is no one really knows. The key ingredients are bacon and apples. There should be onions, too, and cider, and potatoes, all in a pastry case and served hot.