The passion of the crust

FOR Chrissy Lavery it is a fulfilling way to earn a crust.

Whether it is a "Nessy" pie or a "Desperate Dan" classic, her passion for pies is insatiable.

Chrissy, more than most, celebrated National Pie Day yesterday, baking some of her favourites.

She opened up Stone's Pie Shop in Hull's Trinity Market in September and already has a faithful set of customers.

Chrissy, 44, said: "When I was a little girl I loved cooking, even though I would get into scrapes and nearly burn the kitchen down.

"But then you forget about it as you start to look for a career.

"I feel very lucky that I'm doing a job I really enjoy.

"Making the pies is a spin off from the bakery which I did for ten years."

For Chrissy, the beauty of making pies is that there is endless scope for fillings.

Pies on sale include rabbit, feta and aubergine and chicken balti.

She said: "My customers like the fact they never know exactly what going to be available each day.

"I read a lot of recipes and I've always been quite a foody person.

"I like to create quirky things and give them tongue in cheek names such as steak and pygmy.

"I've created a "Nessy'" pie where I put a Loch Ness monster-shaped crust on top. It's Burns' Night on Friday so I'll be selling a haggis, neeps and tatties pie. The most popular is Aberdeen Angus, which is a good old fashioned pie."

Chrissy admits pies are not the first choice for dieters.

She said: "Pies don't have a great reputation and it's fair to say those on a diet probably shouldn't eat them.

"But we have done low fat versions, such as a Quorn pie with a mashed potato topping.

"But if people are sensible there is nothing wrong with the odd pie."

Mike Bromby, head coach at the nearby St Paul's Boxing Club, had a taste himself, pigging out on a pulled pork and barbecue sauce pie.

He said: "It was delicious, one of the best pies I've ever tasted.

"A boxer wouldn't eat one while trying to make the weight for a match but it would be a great treat for afterwards.

"We need to support local shops like this and get Trinity Market back to what it should be."

Simon Lewis, of Strung Up Audio, has been championing Trinity Market and helped organise National Pie Day celebrations.

He said: "As well as Chrissy making special pies, we have had a fun slide show with a few jokes, such as a sign saying they contain no horse meat.

"Spin It Records also played songs by the band Humble Pie."

Next year, he plans to celebrate it even more.

He said: "We want to make it a bigger event next year.

"We may have a pie eating contest between Hull KR and Hull FC players and get Chrissy to bake the biggest pie in Hull."

As well as National Pie Day, which originated in America, there will be National Pie Week from March 4 to 10.