As with the pasty barm last time out in our British food history feature, this time out we’re looking at Wigan’s kebab (or pie barm).
Because, yes, Northerners love their stodge happy comfort food and working class poverty (seen Orwell’s Road to Wigan Pier).
But it’s not all doom and gloom, as this dish is about as easy as it gets (in terms of fixing a tasty meal that makes you gain loads of weight!).
What’s a Wigan Kebab?
The Wigan Kebab is a pie that’s placed with a barm bap, thusly creating what’s essentially a pie sandwich.
The barm should be buttered up nicely and also include a sauce of choice.
The dish also goes by the name of the pie barm and the Wigan slappy. But, heck, this isn’t complex stuff, right? It’s just a pie with bread around it. To which you can add HP sauce, butter, mushy peas, and whatever else.
You can buy these things from various places in Lancashire and Greater Manchester.
But your best bet is to head to one of England’s fabled chippies, especially in Wigan. Here’s an explanatory video into chippy life for you all.
Right, if you haven’t got a clue what those two are on about, then here’s a subtitled version of the video dissecting those Lancashire accents.
Just in case you struggled. This one wasn’t too difficult! But we do have a guide to talking in northern English.
The chippy is often a local focal point where people will go for a late night snack after a night getting wasted on beer in a pub.
So, yes, that’s all fairly standard stuff here. Very normal for British life.
And whilst the Wigan kebab isn’t as iconic as fish & chips, it’s certainly generating more and more interest about its foodstuff being.
What’s the History of the Wigan Kebab?
Where the pie barm comes from is a bit unclear. But Wigan is legendary in Lancashire for being the go-to place for pies. They’re actually called “pie eaters” as a result.
So, yes, the town is ubiquitous with pies. And has been for around the last century or so.
But we could find no real details of when the pie barm came about. It’s not the most difficult recipe to envisage though, is it?
We expect some hungry Wiganer decided to have a pie on the go one day, so wrapped the pie up in tasty white bread. Reet proper!
That’s the theory, anyway, but this is one bit of English food history missing an origins story.
How Do You Make a Wigan Kebab?
Again, this really isn’t very difficult to try and work out. But there’s a helpful geezer above with the right instructions.
Basically, you need a pie. And you need a barm. Some butter and some sauce are also handy.
Then you, sort of, cobble it all together and consume the thing. It’s that simple. Pukka!
Has a Pie Ever Been Into Space?
On a final note, in December 2016 a pie was tethered to a high-altitude weather balloon and sent into orbit.
It even had a dinky little tin foil tray to go with it and rose to 38 miles above the Earth, staying up there for some two hours.
This stunt was to promote the annual World Pie Eating Championships in Wigan. It’s run since 1992.
Locals take this event very seriously (enough so to send the first pie into space), with Lancashire born weight trainer Anthony Danson holding an impressive record.
In 2005, he ate some seven pies in just three minutes. Belting!
Sent from my iPhone
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It’s great you sent that from your iPhone, lady. I hope… THAT’S WRAPPED IN A BARM!!!!
But if you let me know I’ll edit that so it makes sense. xoxo
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A total gaff. I’m browsing your post about the barms trying to imagine how yummy with smashed peas and I hear a swoosh. I did not know what went out into the world so I’m glad it landed at your place. So hysterical. Or tragic. Anyway. I’m going to make myself a barm now that my mind is at ease.
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Are you looking for a fight or what, lady!?
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Yeah sure why not. I’m looking for a fight or a Barm. You decide.
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Barmin’ ‘ell! (please refer to my Northern Talk podcast from earlier this year).
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‘ell yeah m8! Northern Talk it is . I hate Southern talk y’all.
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Wot? Do you want a f’ t’ barmin’ pasty pie haggis-based spotted dick bairn or nae? Just speak up, FFS! Proper beltin’!
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Are you cussing? Oh wow, let me get my fisticuffs on. Or maybe you’d like a whole blooming mail of your entire post. It could happen. Proper beltin that is.
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You need some fish & chips (with gravy). The rest is history (gravy). Ey up! Ee ba gum, t’ bain ain’t on it an’ I need a warrup wit you, old bean.
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Dear God I’m googling Bairn , You’re feeding the baby caviar and gravy? This may take awhile. I’ll be back with a proper beltin! Fisticuffs, for sure.
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Ee baa gum, lassie, f’ t’ ey! Ecky thump!
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Communicating with your home planet? Lololol, I slay me sometimes!
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I was abducted by aliens last night (again). Now I’m back I can merely suggest you listen to episode #2 of my episodic podcast. And stop being so judgemental!!! Delusions are only delusions when one doesn’t qualify them!
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Abducted again eh? They’ve affected your mind. Delusions are common post abduction reactions. Sleep well.
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I slept well, thank you!
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No abduction? Are you sure?
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I’m as sure as a Labrador (it rhymes, see).
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Not in real English. 😏
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Labradors don’t speak English, lady!
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They speak with their eyes!
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Woof.
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You really must desist with these fist-a-cuff challenges!
Poor ‘Olly!
She’ll caramelize you if it comes down to putting the gloves on.
And I must say, if you’ve been eating this pie barm, you go down, big time!
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Lady, fisticuffs are the norm around these parts. It’s not a proper day unless you’ve slugged a fist in someone’s direction.
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Sounds like you’re all punch drunk!
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Heck yes! That’s a great Adam Sandler film. Punch Drunk Love.
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I wish.
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LOL!
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🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷
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YES!!!! 🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷
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Now we can wax philosophically!
This should be good 🤤😏
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Yes, I’d like to wax one of those Wigan Kebabs. 🤤😏xo🤤😏
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I’d like to have a Wigan Kebab fight. I’m an Ugly drunk. Hic. xoxoxo
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YAY!!! Then we would win! ‘Oron doesn’t have a Wigan in hell bad enough to beat you in an ugly drunk mood.
Of course, I fall asleep after a couple of bottles. SO, as I lay on the ground, you can use my body as a trip over line! Ha! xoxoxo
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A mean drunk is not a pretty sight. You’ll want to sleep this one out, I’ll know it’s over when you come too. ‘Oron will know it’s over in time to prop you up so we can continue philosophizing 😴🤤🤭
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And check me out here, sipping on my tea and sneering down at the North American drunks. Tsk!
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Really? Tea? Girls just want to have fun. 🎈
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Boys just want to drink brews.
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🍻🍕🍕theres your fun.
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Beer, pizza, belching, and fisticuffs. The perfect weekend!
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Perfection! Monday be dammed.
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A couple of bottles of absinthe? Yes, that would do it to you, I think.
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It’s very easy to have fights in Wigan, you just turn up and they naturally happen.
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That’s awesome!
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Well, got one better coming up later today. A Scottish dish. It’s exceptional.
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Oh god no!
Is it haggis related?
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Not really. It’s probably worse, to be honest.
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Dahling! Are you still alive after eating that darn barm?
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I ate the damn barm and he’s still wants to fisticuff , he’s a mad man. The abductions I suppose. Why can’t he fisticuff with his fellow aliens?
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Well, that’s just it…his fellow aliens!
He’s probably been abducted so often that he has Stockholm Syndrome.
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So long as it’s not the China Syndrome. Eeeeeee!
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Egads! ‘Oron might be in big trouble. I wonder if he’s glowing in the dark?
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That’s the Alien thing , he should have a good detoxify with essence of lavender .
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I prefer Putrescence, it’s the official Manchester scent.
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Ohh… so he’ll glow a lighter shade of purple?
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that’s not a bad thing though.
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It’s a fab colour for ‘Oron!
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Simply divine, this could take a positive spin.
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Of course he won’t be able to wear yellow any more!
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Yes I can, I just need to make sure I’m jaundiced.
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You really embrace unhealthiness! It’s a unique quality.
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Why not? Jaundice makes me STAND OUT in life.
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True!
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See what happens ? What the ‘ell will he do now?
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Purple + yellow = brown.
Hmmm, no comment!
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Tragic….
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Exactly! He’ll have to give up his career as a basketball backboard!
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That’s really sad.
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What could he do now?
HEY!
What about those wood bats with an elastic and ball attached?
He could be the bat!!!
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I don’t see a lot of future in that for him. Ok, we’ll go with that.
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Cool! xoxoxoxo
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xoxoxo
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Paddle ball games are just the best! Great fun when out of it on absinthe, lady!
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I’m better at Parcheesi.
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Parcheesi? Is that like parmesan cheese or something?
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It is a board game. NOT bored… don’t rile me. I’ll get ‘Olly in on it!
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‘olly and ‘er ruddy fists of fury. My word! I’m quaking on that on already.
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Got ya shakin’ in yer boots, eh?
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OF COURSE! It’s that vast Rapunzel-like hair that’s so scary for shaved headed geezers like moi.
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You could be whipped or choked with it! You are right to be afraid.
I’ve got to get back to your blog and read that Santa post.
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HUZZAH! More Santa tomorrow, too. He’s a cad!
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Eggnog? That’s yellow.
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Egg yolks are yellow. Eggnog is a dark cream. Are you considering changing your colour to eggnog?
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Don’t get pedantic with me, lady! Advocat, then. Yes. YES!
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I am not a pendant!
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The Pedantic Pendant. There’s a poem.
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Could be!
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I haven’t checked that yet. I’ll confirm in an upcoming podcast.
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When are you podcasting?
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MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!!!! But maybe this weekend.
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Okay!!!
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Ee bah gum, lady!
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I was thinking of touring Three Mile Island, get a few pics, eh?
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Go for it! You’d suit a hazmat suit, actually.
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Where can I get one. They aren’t just hanging in Macy’s.
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Just steal one, you know! Or build one out of tinfoil and sellotape. 👍
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I like the tinfoil and cellophane plan. I think for headgear a colander wrapped in duct tape will do nicely eh? You should have coordinated with me prior to your nuclear excursion.
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AGREED! Like the colander idea, that’s a creative spark right there, that is, lady! I did actually wear my Reni hat at Chernobyl as it was a hot day. So that was sort of similar.
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Wise choice. Of course it was hot in Chernobyl!
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It was hot…. BECAUSE THERE WAS A HEATWAVE. Otherwise it’s normally pretty cold in that region.
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Right, I think I heard festivities wee cancelled in Chernobyl due to the extraordinary heatwave.
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Lady, when I’m wearing a Reni hat it means the RAVE is ON! Festivities all the way. Madchester, na na na!
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Rave on wild man from Manchester! Stone Roses rock.
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Innit.
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Stockport Syndrome more like! (Stockport is just down the road from me)
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Umhmmm……
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YES!
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It’s all them carbohydrates, they play with you and make you go a bit funny.
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Sweet of you to let me know, I’d probably be awake all night wondering what I’d set loose on Mr.Oron. xoxo
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Bring it on! Fisticfuss with hhen eenne… HICK! Houses of Pies… yerr.. err!
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Oh! House of Pies. I say we get pie faced and take it outside.
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You wot, m8?
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Takin it outside. Get it m8?
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You startin’, m8? You startin’!??!!? I’m bald and dumb, I got a head start on you smart Floridinainianians!
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You’ll need a head start after a couple of brams.
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F’ t’ bairn ain’t helpin’, lady, just Caviar it and f ‘t done. Beltin’.
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Look how I spelled Barm. So slaps knee like a backwoods Floridian.
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Bap is also acceptable.
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