Every ground I go to I buy a coffee and a steak pie. I would like to say I have tasted some of the best (Killie/County) and the worst - I would like to put some emphasis on the latter.

I understand how this forum works, bit of banter here and there - more often a play on words relating to the topic of discussion, but I think that the pies we have are absolutely horrendous.

I enjoy a steak pie. This is no secret however I am now being forced to eat a cheeseburger from the burger van situation in the north stand/west stand corner - Don't get me wrong the girls in the van are nice and the burger is great  but my go to snack at the football is a steak pie. 
Increasingly I have been becoming frustrated with the sad state of affairs we now have at the 'shop' at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium - Even more so considering our near rivals can provide a more than acceptable version of the very same pastry based delight.

I have tried for months to forget just how awful a situation we have on our hands but I have now reached the end of my tether.

Why are our pies always stuck to the bottom of the casing? This makes eating the pie a horrendous situation, often leaving me caked in gravy - something that does not look very good. 

This also leaves me with another issue. Once I have eaten what I can pick up with my hands I am left with steak at the bottom of my tin pie case. Having paid £2.30 for a pie I am left with the tough choice either using my fingers to eat what I paid for whilst also covering my hands in gravy - again a horrendous situation especially when I need to then wash my hands with cold water in the bathrooms (not hygenic) - or leave the remains of the pie.

Surely at least we could be provided with a fork? 

Sorry but we have the worst pies in the league.

Edited January 21, 201610 yr by jamie ictfc
Explain my situation.

It would be a different matter if Yogi made the pies himself.

I could eat shree

I am probably one of the 'happy clappy' type you refer to Kingsmills, though a positive mental attitude (which hopefully translates to the same in any players who read Caleythistleonline) is how I'd describe it, but you are right, the last pie I ate at a home game was so long ago that I haven't had another since. It always amazes me that with award winning pie makers and bakers on our doorstep we don't make use of them. Devouring heavenly tasting pies at down to earth prices could become a 'must have' experience for all who flock to the stadium on a Saturday afternoon, ensuring that we all leave the ground fulfilled to some extent regardless of the final score (which I'm sure would usually be a win, but maybe that is just the happy claptrap in me).

Has anyone ever thought of going to Harry Gow and asking if they could even supply the numbers we'd need each other week as well as on short notice for cup replays etc. How many do we consume on an average home day. 1500. Thats a lot of additional pies and a lot of additional staff needed on an irregular basis. Could they meet the demand?

I totally agree why not get local/regional produce on sale. Good for the customers as well as the businesses, it's not just Gows there's Ashers from Nairn, Mcleans from Forres etc is there not a chance of the club using one of these companies helps keep people employed etc and the quality is much better than the fayre in the stadium. I was even following a couple of Partick fans after the game complaining about the burnt pies etc 

having a pie and bovril  is fairly traditional at the game and if the quality is good would surely be a decent source of income to the club on match days 

p.s. I would be surprised if 1500 pies were needed that is almost every second person eating one. When I look song our row in the north stand prob only 2 of 8 are having a pie 

Edited January 23, 201610 yr by jagster

Strange how some people's views in regards the quality of the product on the pitch run in direct correlation to their views on the quality of the pies.

Wonder if there' a psychological or scientific connection?

Perhaps, I had a Chicken Balti pie and it was Baltic in the stand.

 

A pie and a bovril is very much part of the matchday experience and it has been for generations of fans and long may it continue. 

Doesn't surprise me the likes of Bannerman can't get his head round it but when your munching your way through free sandwiches and guzzling cappuccinos he never will

Our neighbours seem to have the right idea using a local baker for their pies, you only have to look at threads on P&B to see how highly they are rated by away fans travelling north

Dougal

 

 

Get Harry Gow Sausage Rolls and Ashers Pies.....SORTED!!!

I asked for a packet of crisps yesterday and they were charging £1.50 for it - they were swiftly told to ram it. I settled for a chocolate bar that cost £1 still over priced tbqhwy #FirstWorldProblems

£2.20 for a cup of tea from the pie van

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I still paid it 

If these outlets are franchised out the club get a lump sum upfront and have no control over price, quality or delivery.

if the price and quality is to improve the club need to run the outlets !

It's high time the club ensured it's fans got a decent deal! Better quality and better price.

The club must have got a good enough deal to go ahead with it in the first place and it won't be cancelled overnight.

The majority of the time it's not bad, only down side as along with the bar are queue jumpers.

Could the ban on flasks be abolished? We've probably got the coldest stadium in the top flight and being able to get a hot drink without paying rip off prices would be good. 

You might throw your flask and hurt someone.  

I remember us going to see the proclaimers at whin park and having to bin a £6 foundation/vanity mirror, in case my partner, smashed up the mirror and use it as a weapon.

Some people have got a vivid imagination

 

4 minutes ago, 12th Man said:

You might throw your flask and hurt someone.  

I remember us going to see the proclaimers at whin park and having to bin a £6 foundation/vanity mirror, in case my partner, smashed up the mirror and use it as a weapon.

Some people have got a vivid imagination

 

There's not a chance I'd part with my thermos. Bovril out of jar in a thermos is immense - and probably safer than the polystyrene cups they use. 

The Scottish Pie awards were held in November 2015. Brora won a Gold Award for the best scotch pie in non-league. Clach got bronze for best steak pie in non-league. Brora use Hastie&Dyce and Clach use V8, both Inverness firms obviously. Why then are we, the Premier League club, being served up utter rubbish when there is clearly top rated pie makers in the City? And why aren't ICTFC not prepared to help out local shops? 

I suspect both those firms can't meet the same level of demand that Lindlay (I think) can offer the club.

I was in Browns the butcher in Nairn today getting some Haggis and was chatting to the owner who's a County fan unfortunately as he's from the Black Isle and we were chatting about the food at both venues and obv he reckons County's are streets better than ours. He said a couple of days notice is all it takes to turn out the number required I don't think the numbers are the issue. He actually gave me an individual steak pie to try for free which was nice of him and all I can say is that if anyone here lives in Nairn you are so lucky I've never tasted one as good ever I took a pic so I'll try and post it. No idea about the price but man it was so good I'll definitely be going back the freebie is going to end up costing that's for sure 

Jagster, there is no such thing as a free lunch, your £4.99 haggis probably cost you £6.49  looks good though.   

2 hours ago, RiG said:

I suspect both those firms can't meet the same level of demand that Lindlay (I think) can offer the club.

... but may no longer need to do so to the same extent at the rate things appear to be going?

4 hours ago, ForzaCaley said:

The Scottish Pie awards were held in November 2015. Brora won a Gold Award for the best scotch pie in non-league. Clach got bronze for best steak pie in non-league. Brora use Hastie&Dyce and Clach use V8, both Inverness firms obviously. Why then are we, the Premier League club, being served up utter rubbish when there is clearly top rated pie makers in the City? And why aren't ICTFC not prepared to help out local shops? 

From what I can gather, it's a Hastie & Dyce pie that the OP is complaining about as that's their van next to the North Stand. 

11 hours ago, CaleyD said:

From what I can gather, it's a Hastie & Dyce pie that the OP is complaining about as that's their van next to the North Stand. 

£1.50 for a bag of crisps is robbery tho...I used to find the van ones nicer but have to admit the sausage rolls from the other serveries are probably the best quality at the moment. 

On ‎22‎/‎01‎/‎2016 at 2:37 PM, Kingsmills said:

Interesting....not even the happy clapping club can do no wrong brigade are leaping to defend the catering......

So happy clappers views are worth less then