ROUND 03
04.11.'05

18

Just three hearties boarded Manze's flagship store in Tower Bridge Road on this glorious autumnal Friday afternoon. The shop was packed with pie-punters but we secured a table at the back of the dining room, where an open window allowed a light breeze to cool your statistician's nape. On the far right, observe a classic 'waxing crescent moon' configuration of mash.

At the top of the page is a snap of Poppa Manze's portrait, which hangs auspiciously at the rear of the room. Michaele Manze started serving pies from this very shop in 1902.

Feast your eyes on this close-up; a Manze's Pie falls under the knife, disclosing its delicious contents. To the right: an all-action shot of the Manze's team in their parsley-green strip. Er, spot-the-ball anyone?

In this picture you can see the distinctive 'patty' that forms the basis of a typical Manze Pie. It ain't a pretty patty, but it sure is tasty.

I don't know what the penalty is for falling foul of that 'polite notice'.

Here is our friendly Pie Lady, who told us how this shop had been passed over in favour of Manze's in Peckham for a prestigious Zagat rating. Rumours suggest that Southwark Council may have been indulging in 'positive discrimination' for urban regeneration. There's only one way to settle the matter, and that's a full investigation by the Pie and Mash Club. Expect a report.

The view from the bus stop; it's high time there was a Pie-n-Mash Bus running on 'an every third Friday lunchtime' basis; a PM1 Routemaster if you please. Come on TFL, sort it out!