ROO'S PIES - Key Persons

A wonderful woman, with farming at her core. From a long line of Herefordshire farming families she was renowned for her pastry making - apple crumbles were for cheats - if it wasn't fully encased in pastry it wasn't worthy at the Sunday lunch table. She would talk to me whilst cooking and leave me with nuggets of information that stay in my head to this day whenever I don the apron - ‘half fat to flour' - ‘you must always roll one way' - ‘let the rolling pin do the work' - ‘oh you've cold hands, let's make some pastry'. She left me her Salter weighing scales and I proudly use them for making my pastry today.

I have been blessed with a mother who is an amazing cook. She seeded the magic of cooking in me at a young age and taught me how to conjure the most beautiful meals from the the simplest ingredients. It fascinated me. The possibility of taking ordinary ingredients out the cupboard and turning it into something delicious - it was like watching magic tricks being performed in front of my eyes, and like all children - I wanted to be the magician.

Mike is an all-round hero of the craft cider world. He is also an incredibly humble and lovely man. Mike's passion for making cider extends to creating a community of inspiring people. Throughout my teenage years I grew up around those people, being inspired by their crafts. Mike's cellar door was always open and welcomed fellow cider makers, food enthusiasts, musicians and artists. His ethos has always been to make cider in a way that enhances the natural environment and encourages others in their pursuits. I owe a lot to this man and I do my best to honour what he has taught me in my approach to Roo's Pies.