Dish No. 74: Cornish Pasty at Myers of Keswick

By Robert Sietsema Sun., Aug. 15 2010 at 9:10 AM

Categories: 100 Dishes to Eat Now, Sietsema

Welcome to 100 Dishes to Eat Now, Fork in the Road's handy list of some of our favorite dishes -- old standbys and new finds alike -- compiled daily.

Today's pick: Cornish pasty at Myers of Keswick.

The pasty ("paah-stee") is a pocket pastry that has been carried by Cornish miners into the tin mines of Cornwall at least since the 16th century, when the first written record of it originated. The quintessential Celtic pastry, it is thought to be related to the empanada, which was invented in Celtic areas of northwest Spain, specificially Galicia, where bagpipes are still played.

The pastry has a flaky crust, fashioned so there's a wobbly ridge on the top. Supposedly, miners with filthy hands would grab the pasty by the spine to eat it, then throw away the spine. The stuffing is potatoes mixed with ground lamb, peas, and other vegetables, though spuds often predominate. The flavor is mellow and satisfying.

The pastry is available at Myers of Keswick, a store that specializes in U.K. sausages, pastries, canned goods, and other food items. Sometimes if you get there on Saturday afternoons, you can snag one hot out of the oven.

Myers of Keswick
634 Hudson Street
212-691-4194