Harvest Festival · Fish Pie
Stargazy Pie
Photo: Zangar (talk) (Transfered by Zangar/Original uploaded by Zangar) / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
The fish heads are left poking up through the crust on purpose, staring at the sky — that's literally where the pie gets its name.
Whole pilchards are arranged head-out around a pie filling of egg and potato, so their heads and tails break through the pastry lid as it bakes. It's traditionally served in the fishing village of Mousehole on Tom Bawcock's Eve, with slices sold to visitors who come for the festival.
Why it's made this way: Legend credits it to a fisherman, Tom Bawcock, who braved a storm to catch enough fish to save Mousehole from famine. The heads are left sticking out so the oil from the fish runs back into the pie as it bakes.
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