Family recipe is the secret to perfect pie

A KINCARDINE butcher has beaten off stiff competition from across Scotland to receive an award for his steak pies, which have been made to the same family recipe for the last 20 years.

The steak pies from James Rae & Son in Kincardine rose with perfection and the butcher was delighted to be presented with a Silver Award in the Scottish Butchers Traditional Steak Pie Competition run by the Scottish Federation of Meat Traders Association.

Eighty butchers from across Scotland took part submitting their product for evaluation by a panel of experts and enthusiasts at Perth College last month.

Scott Rae, told the Advertiser, "It is great to win an award like this and to be presented with a certificate in recognition of our hard work and achievements.

"Our steak pies are one of our best sellers so to win an award like this is wonderful.

"And it couldn't have come at a better time as it is coming up to Christmas and New Year.

"It is the same family recipe we have used for a long time - we have been in Kincardine for 20 years and the business has been in the family for the last 25 years.

"It's just a matter of keeping on top of the quality and making sure that we always make a nice job of them."

This isn't the first time that James Rae & Son has won an award for their steak pies.

They also received an award from the Scottish Federation of Meat Traders Association in 2007 for his speciality steak pie.

Douglas Sword, of sponsors William Sword bakers, added, "We are delighted to continue our association with these awards, which celebrate the best of Scottish produce and the best in Scottish craftsmanship and innovation.

"We have a very long association with the butchery trade in Scotland, having supplied pastry for over fifty years, and it is very heartening to see the breadth and depth of talent represented by these awards.

"We are sure it bodes well for the future of an industry which we are proud to be a part of."