A student from Duchess’s Community High School in Alnwick is celebrating after winning Turnbull’s Northumbrian Food Hall’s annual Design a Pie competition – and her creation is now entered into the British Pie Awards.
Mamie, a year eight student at DCHS, won this year’s competition with her pie – the Big and Beefy cheeseburger pie.
After impressing the judging panel with her bold flavour combinations and strong concept, her pie has been submitted to the British Pie Awards. Mamie will compete for both the Best Hot Eating Pie and Young Piemaker of the Year titles. The pie will also be on sale at Turnbull’s throughout March.
The British Pie Awards is the premier pie competition in the UK, attracting hundreds of entries each year from professional bakers, butchers and pie makers across the country. Judged by industry experts, the awards celebrate craftsmanship, flavour, innovation and traditional baking skills. The judging takes place in Melton Mowbray in front of a panel of industry experts from major supermarkets and food producers.
As part of her prize, Mamie was invited into the Turnbull’s bakery to help create her winning pie alongside head baker Phil and the bakery team.
“Mamie’s pie really stood out to us,” said Phil. “The flavour idea was strong, well thought through, and perfect for a proper hearty pie. It is fantastic to see such creativity from young people, and we are proud to enter her pie into the British Pie Awards.”
The competition, run in partnership with Duchess’s Community High School, invited students to design a savoury pie filling that could be professionally produced and sold in store.
Karen Hopper, assistant headteacher at DCHS, said: “A huge well done to all of our students who took part in the British Pie Week competition with Turnbull’s. We are really proud of our links with local businesses and are grateful to Turnbull’s for the creative challenge provided. We wish Mamie every success at the British Pie Awards with her Big and Beefy cheeseburger pie, and we look forward to tasting it!’
Two other students were also recognised for outstanding entries. Alice achieved second place with her Roast Dinner Pie, which will be made and featured as Pie of the Month in June. Luca placed third with his Athlete Pie, which will be featured as Pie of the Month in November.
