An unusual liquorice flavoured item was amongst the treats on offer at this year’s Pontefract Liquorice Festival courtesy of local butchers Pickerings and award winning butchers and pie bakers, Eric Richmond.
Ossett based Eric Richmond had specially developed a liquorice flavoured pork pie which was exclusively on sale during the two day festival at Pickerings of Pontefract.
Wholesale butchers and pie bakers, Eric Richmond are well known for their range of uniquely flavoured baked savoury goods and, in 2015, won an award in the Great Yorkshire Pork Pie, Sausage and Black Pudding Competition for their small pork pie which is still made to company founder Eric Richmond’s original recipe today.
Tom Martin, MD of Eric Richmond, said the company had been working for a while to develop a pork pie with the right balance and flavour of liquorice. They finally struck it lucky when they came across the Yorkshire Bramble and Liquorice Jelly from Bracken Hill Fine Foods at Elvington near York.
“We had almost given up trying to make a pie with liquorice when we found the bramble and liquorice jam. This works perfectly in the pie, giving just the right hit of liquorice without being too overpowering,” he commented.
“In celebration of the annual Liquorice Festival we were pleased to work with Pickerings on the pie and to exclusively pilot it during the two day event. We now look forward to including it as part of our general range of pies.”
Rick Pickering, owner of Pickerings in Pontefract Market Hall, said the liquorice pie had been given the thumbs up by his customers.
“Liquorice is one of those flavours that you either love or hate but the liquorice pork pie attracted some interest and lots of customers, including myself, enjoyed it!” he said. “I’d definitely be keen to stock it again next year.
Tom Martin MD of Eric Richmond said “We love to celebrate local flavours and work with Yorkshire’s fabulous heritage. The time and effort that have gone in to making this special pie always feels worthwhile when we get such a positive customer reaction.”
