Apparently the poor bakers of Cornwall have been driven to the edge by unfair competition. They’ve been fighting the tide of so called “Cornish Pasties” that have never been within hundreds of miles of Cornwall. Now, thanks to the intrepid bureaucrats of Brussels, the Cornish Pasty now has the same kind of name protection as Champagne:
Aficionados of the Cornish pasty will in future be assured that their pasty is the real deal, following a European Commission ruling that only pasties prepared in Cornwall in the traditonal way can be labelled “Cornish”.
Cornish maiden bearing platter of genuine Cornish pasties. Photo: Cornish Pasty AssociationThe announcement that the pasty has been granted “protected geographical indication” (PGI) marks a great day for the Cornish Pasty Association, which for nine years has battled to protect its product from pretenders pumping out non-traditional imitations “inferior in both quality and taste”.
I’ve always been a big fan of “Cornish Pasties”, but I now discover that I’ve apparently been cheated all these years: I’ve never actually eaten a “real” Cornish Pasty in my entire life! (And given that I’ve never been to Cornwall, I may never try one . . .)
I can’t imagine them actually being able to enforce this. I was in London about five years ago. Cornish Pasty carts and shops were almost as prevalent as hot dog places in most North American cities.
So this is like someone trying to say that only sausages from New York can be called hot dogs.
It is time for dinner. I wonder if there is anyplace I can get a Cornish Pasty around here?
Comment by Clive — February 23, 2011 @ 18:50
No matter what, squirrel meat should not be found in any kind of pasty . . .
H/T to Jon for the link.
Comment by Nicholas — February 24, 2011 @ 14:46