The first ever British Pie Awards!

There's  been  the BAFTAs, the Grammys, and of course the Oscars, but  now  it's time to get ready for the country's premier awards event:

With the entries flooding in and the preparations well under way, producers  the length  and breadth of the country, from the Highlands of Scotland to the  coast of  Cornwall, are rolling up their sleeves and rolling out the pastry to compete or the esteemed title of  Supreme Champion 'Pie of Pies' .

The  prestigious line up of judges includes, Ed Bedington, editor of Meat Trades Journal, Angela Boggiano, Food Editor for Delicious magazine, Xanthe Clay,  food writer from The Daily Telegraph, Sophie Conran, author of Sophie Conran's  Pies, Tamasin  Day-Lewis, author of Queen of Tarts, Sheila Dillon,  presenter  of  The Food  Programme,  Radio 4, TV chef  Rachel Green, Sylvia  Macdonald,  editor  of British Baker and TV Chef Phil Vickery

The  pie  is  enjoying a well deserved resurgence of popularity as  an  icon  of British  cuisine. Savoury or sweet, the British eat millions of them every  year with  £490m pa being spent on chilled pies alone! These awards are celebration of British pies in all their varieties.

Different  regions have evolved their own particular specialities  such  as  the Melton  Mowbray Pork Pie and the Cornish Pasty and even football clubs now  have their own speciality pies.

The  British Pie Awards will take place on 21 April 2009 and the venue  for  the awards is the magnificent setting of St Mary's Church in Melton Mowbray.

www.britishpieawards.co.uk