Pie and Mash - No Rabbit

Who do you know who hasn't thrown a party, get-together, celebration or reunion at some time or another? But how often have you come away from any one of those functions remembering just how good or gossip-worthy the catering was? None too often, in all probability. With catering that puts pie and mash firmly on the menu, however, you could become the talk of the town for throwing a party that has that certain something that is not only different but agreeably memorable.

What's it all about?

There's nothing new about pie and mash, of course. Time was when it was practically the staple food of the predominantly working-classes of London. Its appeal then was largely because of the widespread availability of a few, restricted ingredients and, therefore, its cheapness.

For anyone hosting or organising a social function these days, the affordability of pie and mash is probably still a great attraction. But, it's not just the price. The menus have become a lot more extensive than of old. It's no longer just mutton, but a whole range of different pie fillings; it's no longer only mashed potato on the side, but a choice of vegetables such as peas or baked beans; it's no longer a simple, one-course meal, but can include starters (jellied eels, stewed eels, cockle and mussels are all popular choices; and it's even possible to tuck into afters such as fruit pies or crumbles.

In a nutshell, therefore, this particular catering solution has taken all that's best from a much-loved London tradition (pie and mash can still be served with the mysterious, almost legendary, green liquor, for example), but added new and tasty variations to make it even more appealing to modern-day tastes.

Is it for you?

When choosing any catering solution one of the things many people will look for is the flexibility available in the arrangements that can be made. If you choose to feature, pie, mash and all its many variations in your catering, you'll also find that the possibilities are especially flexible.

For the maximum possible flexibility, for instance, you could choose to take a bulk home delivery of a selection of different dishes to store in your freezer. That way, you'll never be caught on the hop, but always have a number of tasty, ready-made meals to serve at even the least planned or expected social gatherings. When you've had the more usual period of notice in planning for a party, however, there are still some choices to be made. Do you simply want the pie and mash and accompanying dishes simply delivered to the venue for you to arrange and serve yourself, or will you choose the buffet service or full service offered by many a supplier?

Something quite different

Though it might not be such an obvious choice that in itself helps to make pie and mash - and all the trimmings - something to set your own party apart from the rest. It's not just an old-time favourite, but one that's kept thoroughly up with the times and continues to offer nourishing, tasty and wholesome food at a price you can afford.