F.Cooke has been in Broadway Market (9 Broadway Market, London, E8 4PH) for years and always was one of the best Pie and mash Shop's in the area.

It wasn't much of a trip for us being on Bethnal Green road but it was one we made if we had time rather than use the three Pie and Mash shops in easy walking distance. Such was the quality of this shop and from those early days as a child, this has firmly remained my favorite Pie and mash shop in London.

I always ride to this one so I don't have much of a clue how to get there other than to say there's Cambridge Heath overground station nearby as well as Cambridge Heath Bus Garage and Bethnal Green Tube Station isn't too far off either (click here for map) all walkable easily.

The shop is a real blast from the past, it's a real step back in history where the shop is clad in marble, the tables are marble and you have a good old fashioned bench seat, no wooden chairs here! The shop was established in 1862 (see the creative commons licensed photo) and I don't think there's been much of an update for any of the fitments but it's classy in a basic sort of way. The pies are stored behind the counter and trays are brought up from below and taken out of their little metal trays only when they are put on the plate.(F. Cooke's pie and mash shop, Broadway Market, Hackney, London. 11 January 2006. Photographer: Fin Fahey)

Eels, liquor and mash are stored in huge chrome warmers on the right hand window, pies go on first, then the mash and then the liquor. If you order stewed eeels as well you could get them on the plate if there's room or in a separate bowl with it's own generous helping of liquor. You only get spoons and forks in here so don't go asking for a knife, there's also no gravy and no ketchup or sauce! On the table you'll find white pepper, salt and vinegar, you might have to hunt a bit for the chilli vinegar there's one to about every two tables. The chilli vinegar is hot and spicey with peppercorns in as well as chilli's, this one will make your nose run!

The guy who owns is very warm and friendly, most welcoming of any pie shop owner I've met. If you're a tourist (yes, they do go to Hackney) then he'll take you through it all patiently. Talking of tourists, Hackney around this place is becoming gentrified, the canal nearby has moorings for barges and it's a popular stop. Bicycle shops and arthouses abound everywhere and Hackney has had it's fair share of Banksy art installations.

That aside, the shop has been through some rough times and yet it still manages to stay and feed us poor visitors. Not all of us are East Enders either, some have moved far away and regularly make the trek in to Hackney for this Pie and Mash and take some away too. There's visitors that go in not to eat either, many films short, long and blockbuster have used rooms or the shop here. If you do go for a visit you may well see media types hauling camera rigs or waving clipboards around and maybe even the odd 'star' if you are really lucky.

The food available here is rustic, the pies are big, the mince is ground that bit chunkier and the mash may well have the odd lump or two, the eels are well cooked but can be soft if you get in a bit late. If you specifically want eels then don't go on a Monday, no fish market early Monday morning, he doesn't use frozen. You won't get gravy here either, just liquor. what you might get though is a fruit pie, I don't know if those are summer only or seasonal, I'll find out next time I go in.

Taste is where it counts here though, the pies are absolutely lovely even if you have to put up with the odd bit of chewy beef where it hasn't been ground so fine. That is few and far between though, the pies are lovely full of thick dark brown gravy, these really are pies to savour. The mash is tasty and the liquor is lovely and dark green, really tasty that coats everything beautifully only thinning with vinegar and gravy. I can't really describe why the Pies and Mash taste so good here, everything just seems to gel together perfectly and that extends to the surroundings, the tiles, the signed photo's, the community based adverts, it just all feels so right. Drinks are tea and squash.

Round Up I know this is my favorite shop and I hope you can see why. From the welcome to the feeling you have when you leave, it's an experience and it's an experience people travel miles for. If you want no nonsense feeding then this is the place for you, you get the history with the real flavour of the East End. This place always does it for me, perfectly every time. I'll not go on too much more, I just rate this place.

There's nothing to fear going here, if you don't understand stuff or want to try something just ask. You can ask for 20 pies to take away but be prepared to wait because the sitting eaters get fed first. If in doubt, phone ahead. I rated F Cooke's 19/20 - The failing being the rare chewy bit of meat, personally I'm suspicious of smooth mash. This place is a winner it's just a bit off the beaten path, please go, it's lovely.

* Address: 9 Broadway Market, London, E8 4PH
* Tel: +44 (0)20 7254 6458
* Opening Times: Mon - Thur: 10:00 - 19:00, Fri - Sat: 10:30 - 20:00

Gocmc website click the link: http://www.dashack.co.uk/gocmc/ Eaten in this Pie Shop? Write your comments below

Comments are closed.