We Tried Pie, Mash, and Jellied Eels At One Of London's Oldest 'Fast Food' Restaurants
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ก.พ. 2018
- F. Cooke is one of the oldest fast food restaurants in London. They've been serving handmade pies and mash with traditional jellied eels since 1862, and not much has changed since then.
"This is the oldest traditional meal in the East End of London. This is it," owner Joe Cooke told Business Insider. "It hasn’t altered, and as far as I’m concerned it won’t alter."
Their pies are made using a divider machine splits that the dough into 36 perfect pieces. Each piece is then rolled and filled with mincemeat mixed with salt, pepper, and caramel.
On a busy day they can make up to 600 pies.
Pies are served with potato mash and a sauce called liquor made from parsley and the juice of cooked eels.
"It was my great-grandfather who put the eel sauce, the parsley sauce which is predominantly a fish sauce with the meat pie," said Cooke. "Thank God it worked. That was it."
F. Cooke has stayed at traditional as possible. They still sprinkle sawdust on the floor.
As per pie etiquette, knives here are banned, and pies are to be eaten with fork and spoon only. The same can be said for gravy. "You mention the G word and you’re gone. It does not come with gravy. It might do up north or wherever it is, but here the traditional meal is pie and mash and parsley sauce liquor. That’s it."
--------------------------------------------------
Follow Business Insider on Twitter: / businessinsider
Follow BI on Facebook: bit.ly/1W9Lk0n
Read more: www.businessinsider.com/
--------------------------------------------------
Business Insider is the fastest growing business news site in the US. Our mission: to tell you all you need to know about the big world around you. The BI Video team focuses on technology, strategy and science with an emphasis on unique storytelling and data that appeals to the next generation of leaders - the digital generation.
![[TH] 2024 PMSL SEA W2D4 | Summer | โอกาสสุดท้าย ของสัปดาห์สอง](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/aswciGrYovo/mqdefault.jpg)
![ตรงที่เดิม - ฝน พรสุดา [ต้นฉบับ :เบส ขวางหวัน]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/c5YnbGEztI8/mqdefault.jpg)
So this is what conquering half the world for spices gets you
Renegade Y this comment tho
Cant be good at everything..... or anything coming to think about it
🤣🤣🤣🤣
Lmao they did so muh then didnt use the spices
@@bushisback112 P R E A C H
You’ll still never understand how he holds the pie so lightly
We literally have no idea how gently they are being held. Total mystery!
“Oy mate, you’d want to go for a swig at the pub?”
“Ah, sorry mate. I haven’t finished watering me pies.”
LOL
just need to finish jellying my eels and I will be right out
The deliciousness of their food and the beauty of their women makes them the greatest sailors in the world
I think you got their women mixed up with Scandinavians...
@@greenman8060 I think you misunderstood my comment
@@fitrianhidayat nice old sarcasm from a wkwkwkw lander , i prresume
@@greenman8060 r/whoosh
@@fitrianhidayat I think you misunderstand mine.
I bet most of us learnt of Jellied Eels by Great Big Story.
Ayyye thats where i came from
same
You tell me
Vice actually
shortfuse87 YT hahah...that's right
I had it about a year ago. Let's just say it's an acquired taste.
The owner and his son were quite surly, it was hilarious. I'd say do it at least once for the experience.
Raj Dabholkar lol i work right near this place and they are a funny lol
i would probably stick to your curry mate....also an acquired taste..
Curry is an 'acquired taste' that's taking over Britain and Europe, replacing your esteemed fish and chips as national dish, ironic isn't it? Mutter the 70s prejudice, ridiculing their 'meat quality' to soothe your juvenile ego all you wish. The world knows it isn't true. Do you know what's true? Your traditional cuisine is dying.
This very shop is struggling right now, look it up, perhaps replaced by a curry house soon - all due to your inability to keep your food culture alive, yet believe you can strengthen it by damning other culture. Hah! stupid
@@gordon104blue Curry is not an acquired taste dude, curry is just straight-up delicious from the start.
@Y K Have you been to India? The word Curry does not exist there. Curry is a British creation. In India they don't even eat meat. It is only logical that wherever the British went with their Empire they would take the foods from around the World and change them to their own liking. If you go to India the food is nothing like it is in an Indian restaurant in the UK. As stated they do not use the word Curry. It is the same with drink too, if you go to Portugal you can buy Port wine, yet another British creation.
It's making more and more sense why Britain loves curry... Their traditional food is kind of... unique.
Shut up
Yeah, we don't really have much going for us food wise.
LowKey I was gonna say the same 😂
Yes. A northerner.
Most of the food you listed is a load of dog shite, mate.
If you like it, great. Keep eating it but it's not for me.
An expert 😂😂😂
From England, literally don't know anyone who thinks Jellied Eels are good.
looks good to me tho.
Same, it looks disgusting! The pie and mash looks great though.
The whole place looks depressive and disgusting
Well I do... I find them quite fresh and tasty. What I find sad is that the food culture among people in England is disappointing, people cannot tell healthy from processed. Frozen fish fingers and canned baked beans are so normalized.
ghillemh Gordon Ramsay thinks they’re delicious lmao. There’s a clip of him eating them.
Love the owner, he keeps this family tradition alive and unchanged. I wish I could order some online and they could ship it to me frozen. And I could pop it in the microwave.
Cooke don’t do deliveries, but Manze do.
I can tell from the video that he’s a surly grump
@@fairlanewhip79id be grumpy too if I served 💩 food
My grandmother always had on Saturday night eels, mash, green liquor and a bottle of stout. She always bought her eels live so on Saturday morning as a child I would go with her to the fishmongers and return home with a writhing mass of newspaper in her basket. I was not allowed in the kitchen to see her "prepare" the eels but was allowed to eat with my grandparents in the evening. All green liquor is parsley sauce made with the water the eels are cooked in.......luverly grub.
🌹🌹🌹
This is actually an amazing piece of history that probably doesn't happen much anymore
@@genghiskhanxxx5276 probably cus its rank
@@kurt7842 go back to iron bru and haggis
@@retronacious its better than this shite lol
You what they say:
HEAVEN is where the police are British, the chefs Italian, the mechanics are German, the lovers are French and everything is organised by the Swiss.
Now, HELL is where the police are German, the chefs are British, the mechanics are French, the lovers are Swiss and everything is organized by the Italians!!
Nah, you're behind the times, mate; everything is now outsourced to China....
Ah yes, humour.
This is brilliant 😂
I too enjoy jokes from the turn of the last century.
Nice
If you're new to it and want to try it, you need to put chilli vinegar and white pepper on it, you will find it on all tables. Plus plenty of salt for the mash as it's not a buttery mash.
Most of us that eat it have grown up eating it starting from only having mash and liquor as too young to chew the pie.
Also it's David Beckhams favourite meal.
Jellied eel, the pinnacle of british cuisine.
Excuse me, sir or madam, I resent that comment. Quite clearly you have never heard of 'Deep Fried Mars Bar' - you may substitute Hershey Bar, if you will. Now THAT's the pinnacle of British cuisine...but you should blame the Scots for this particular gustatory 'delight'. Other denizens of the UK would likely run a mile rather than ingest such a thing...
@@rogerlephoque3704 that can't be since both are american. besides, the pinnacle is reached only after adding nutella on top.
@@rogerlephoque3704 surely you have never dined upon a fried peanut butter jelly sandwich.
@@rogerlephoque3704 I say bloody well right, ol' boy!
Its niche and specificto a small part of london, id say the sunday roast is pinaccle
The comment section is so much more depressing here than the one in Munchies, much like the respective videos.
For real! Everyone is miserable here.
Haha. Yeah, right. Nicely overworked, depressed from chasing the money target group.
Very easy to govern.
pffff
Because toxic people are always trying to look to argue. The point of these videos is to share perspectives on food from around the world. If you don't like the food shown, just move on. No need to make a big deal out of it
its just people with zero perspective dont mind it they'll grow out of it eventually
english people season their food with water lmao
Lol
It's just so it doesn't dry out you nob
@@lowkey6134 also because back then spices were a myth for the economy.
Prick
Are you blind, or just stupid?
My old dad used to take me for pie and mash when I was a kid in the 60’s. I definitely acquired the taste, my mouth is watering just looking at this vid.
We all know what he meant when he said the jellied eel tasted interesting...
Yeh ..shit !
Yea, he meant tasty because jellied eel tastes amazing.
Crap
As eels are the tastiest fish in the world I guess he meant amazing.
Eels are indeed considered one of the most flavorful fish in the world; acquired taste means acquired taste, not everyone (myself included) likes fish though.
I went to their store with my m.family in the 1950s and have been hooked ever since.I the 1970's i would visit my grandmother in Wandsworth London and drive accross London to bring back such things for them would love some now
johnan gilie you’ll be that age too one day, god willing.
Ok boomer
@@user-xd8jq4gy7y Go eat a tidepod
@@StanceTheoryBro probably tastes better than those eels
The jolly old man was jollier when munchies was there lol
I'd pay good money to see Gordon come in here and review the food and atmosphere.
feels cold, like a morgue
Hardly anyone eats this in England.
You probably can't even get Jellied Eels outside of London.
people see this kind of thing and get their biases confirmed that English food does suck. we really eat a lot more varied types of cuisine than just weird shit like this. I've never had eels in my life...
the pies and mash look great though :D
jellied eels was kinda the only way to preserve eel before there was any fridge
yes you can. My Nan used to take me to Camberwell high street, but I live in Kent now and regularly go to the Pie and Mash shop in Herne Bay.
Good jellied eels at the cafe by the pier down Selsey Bill..
Some people might say the food looks bland. When in my opinion only, it sort of does. But I will not deny that I can already tell it’s such a good ‘comfort’ food on it’s own. For the cold winters, or just when you want to eat something filling and hearty to lift your spirits up. I feel like it’s all on the feeling. The owner did say that sometimes simple is best, as long as it is made with good quality. I am actually eating a mince beef pie while watching this. It it’s only just occurred to me!
I like bland tastes, food with too much spice or sweetening is horrible
its bland af
bland and cold like England
I agree there’s nothing like vinegary gelatinous eels served cold to warm the soul on a winter’s day
Love this place. Travelled from Sheffield (where we have our own pie culture, pie chips mushy peas gravy and Henderson’s relish). Loved having a chat with this bloke and trying traditional cockney fodder
Literally everyone: “That looks depressing and bland”
Brits: “Ahh that looks quite excellent if I say so myself just like mum used to make”
Culture differences is just the cherry on top of all comedy for me. Any Spaniard and Latino cultures are probably my favorite mixes. Like Peruvians have food culture mixes from China, Japan, Korea and Philippines. They're known internationally for their culinary skills. The more mixed a culture the more delicious they can evolve to be. Another good example is Cubans. My father's side is Cuban and they'd tell me stories of how they used to make food with a heavy Spaniard culinary style. When Fidel Castro took control the absence of any kind supplies to make food force them to use whatever they had available that's over 50 years they've lost that portion of their culture and a completely different type of Cuisine was born from the awful communist regime's effect. Food is just... magnificently part of human nature, life, and our universal language of congregation. Because if you ever meet a Cuban and they don't offer you anything to eat; you need to reassure yourself that's not something you missed out of the conversation.
Honestly looks horrifying, I’m gonna stick to my culture and eat nice and delicious asian food. Love me some soy sauce.
Honestly it looks horrific to most Brits too. It’s only a traditional dish in a small part of one city (the east end of London, where cockneys are from). I’m 30 and I have never once seen pie and mash with parsley liquor or jellied eels on any menu, plus I don’t think many people from outside London have heard of it, and if they have heard of it they probably have never tried it or even seen it.
It’s probably similar to that one cheese that contains maggots that a tiny amount of the population in Italy eat. W
maelienydd that’s kind of true. I’m Scottish and it’s not a thing in Scotland at all. However, I wouldn’t exactly call it English either as I live in the north east England and it doesn’t exist here either. It’s literally just a small part of one city that partakes, but it is a U.K. thing regardless because London is in England which is in the U.K.
DeathHawk 449 EYYYYY!!!!! DATS THE WAY ✋
Ive eaten here numerous occasions. This is as London as London gets.
Superb eating 👍
I went to that place when I went to London. That Jellied Eel is actually very good. But I love, LOVE that pie with parsley sauce!
i like how everyone phrases it as "the parsley sauce, the liquor"
I have watched videos about this lad and his restaurant for so long, now I just wanna grab a ticket to London just to eat his pie&mash
I would most def try it. It looks oddly appetizing 🍃
You wouldnt believe how gently he is holding those pies!
I tried it once when visiting London. Lets say it like this: The people working there are really nice!
BI: *Sees How popular Munchies' video about this restaurant is* "
BI: "What if we just copied this video, but much worse?"
Hahaha true, the Munchie's one has higher quality, it goes in depth more. This is just Insider 101 with their usual "repeats the same clips 10 times" stuffs
I’ve eaten a million pies, as I’m northern and ❤some times with mash. But this is on my bucket list of meals to eat along with the jellied eels and liquor which are gorgeous. Don’t know what the bog deal is with jellied eels , I’ve only had them 2-3 times and they were amazing. Glad to see they make their own pies , I always assumed they were bought in
I oddly would like to try it
I've eaten there. It's all utterly delicious.
love putting a big black subtitle box that can't be turned off over the food. Great job
2 Pie, 2 mash, chilli vinegar, salt and pepper, cuppa tea. Once a month. My god I love Pie and Mash. Proud to see how busy these shops are all day every day.
It's fantastic that a good old British tradition is still alive and well today but I doubt that I'd have the stomach to try the jellied eels.
I'd try it, pie looks amazing. A bit apprehensive on the eels though.
TheGooners11 i dunno man the pea juice looks like puke
Mate pie and mash is beautiful 😍 ❤
I love the menu board you showed. TY!
brilliant video, informative, interesting and throughly enjoyable. Thanks again F n B.
IDK if I'd jelly the Eels but it looks damn good on a cold winter evening.
To be honest. I would eat that. I've had stranger food served to me. This is actually appetizing. Making me hungry
avian68tb who hurt you?
This guy is the living definition of the work bloke
From all the pie and mash shop videos, F. Cooke really looks the best. The colour of that liquor, wow! 🙏❤️☺️
Pie mash and liquour... so underrated👌🏻
I’ve never been so happy to this man return
Looks amazing I'd love to try it!!!
Pie and Mash, sign me up, but jellied eels, they were a favourite of my grandad (rest his soul) but I tried one once, and even just the smell and im running for the hills!
I want to try this out more than anything if I ever visit England.
Love old traditional places like this, wish there were more of them still around. It's part of our history after all
old traditional? what the hell are you talking about?
@@jasonvoorhees5640do you need help with the definition of old or traditional? Both seem like easy words to me
@@dylanmurphy9389
cope and seethe karen
@@jasonvoorhees5640 karen’s diss other cultures because they think they are superior. I assume you’re another one of them
Some history is better done away with. Note the third Reich.
Swear this video gets recommended once a month, and I watch it every time
Had it, was pleasantly surprised. I expected a different taste and texture. Would go frequently if I lived nearby.
I love Pie & Mash w/liquor. I had the eels too but didn't like the jelly part. I'm gonna try the stewed eels next time when back in London!
excellent comfort food, i miss london
James Hanoomansing
come back
Typical Brits thinking their garbage is excellent or the best..
Janemba 112 yes and they bash Americans
MrStig691 pffft as if
MrStig691 also we are the better update
Thanks for the video.I would love to eat both the pie and mash and the jellies eels.Keep up the good work!
I still love pie&mash. Use to go to the bush market on a Saturday then had it for lunch. We now order it on line on a regular basis.❤️❤️
People say that the British colonized half of the world to escape their own cooking... I now believe those people.
idk I think it looks pretty good
except for the eels
@@oliveppee9412 i think the eels looks good
Don't knock it till you've tried it
Hulk jizz, fun for the whole family.
Seraphim pffff, you are such a bratty child.
@@The_NPC20 hahaha if I was bratty I'd be fed jellied eels for my meals ;)
Tried it, probably about three times around Essex and East end. Not the best, but I still love the history and tradition of it.
Time Bandit Wtf lmao
I'd love to try this!
Me and chef friends (one Brit) watching this in South Korea. Looks SO good. Need to take a trip. Or start cooking. Got to have this now!
Who wouldn't try it...any shop that the recipe is still going from the 1800's is worth a try...yes I would...it looks wonderful...this family is part of History !!!...How proud they must be , I know I would be..
1:56
PURE GOLD
They look fabulous...
I've ordered 3 of these for myself and ate it all within an hour.......soooooo good
Went to London last weekend and went here to try it. Personally, it's not my kinda place exactly, but the food was alright and it was cool to try out a classic like that. For people who are curious, it's definitely worth a try.
I want to try this just for experience. I still think it looks tasty.
Looks so good
I'm coming over to have one while I'm in London, won't miss it ! 😁👍🏻
yummmmm i love pie and mash , i love eel too but never had that green liqueur b4
Do they finally know how gentle he is when holding the pies?
As a kid in the East End of London we always had pie and mash and liquor they were pie and mash shops everywhere, it’s a shame the Americans didn’t get a chance to try it they would love it I’m sure there are a few traditional pie mash shop left but most have gone now if you get a chance to try it you’ll be glad you did 👍
Keep seeing Chief Wiggum saying eel pie
First ! My dream came true! Finally insider! Thank you!
Sorry, but you look third to me
Jellied eels and green gravy is a bit off-putting to be honest
We eat jellied eels and it tastes good actually.
You said the G-word get the fock out
ardanev no we don’t
Well to put it simple some do... And some dont
@@muhsinmehrban1138 the owner said the pie must come with the sauce
Damn. They really seasoned those pies with Water! I mean, haven't they heard this amazing invention called Stock that has different variations? Hahaha
Britons, don't let anyone shame you for your culture. Be proud of it and embrace it. Nice video.
@@jknight9613 Stupid post.
I don't think it was mentioned, but the vinegar and pepper are a big deal, without it I'd imagine most renditions are going to be pretty bland. Never had the Jellied Eels though, that was always my grandad's thing.
I just wanna travel to london just to try this
@Paul Jones maybe. maybe not, i like pretty much anything
@@neogeo1670 you would love it don't listen to these fools. Try an english breakfast and the pie and mash.
Just go to Manchester and get gravy instead.
Same
Paul Jones Why would you say this? What’s wrong with honest, traditional working class food like this? It’s warming and comforting; not every meal needs to have exotic ingredients and flavours. I see it as a welcome change from the Europeanisation and Americanisation of British food habits (as much as I like the foods of Europe and America). Don’t be such a snob.
Blimey! That sure looks good that does!
Love that they kept the recipe traditional.
The sawdust on the floor is a different story
Best place for pie and mash in East London......
I was born in the fifties in Canning Town and was brought up on pie and mash luvly grub
Geezer
Family come from Hoxton, we used to eat here, way back in the day. Live in Australia, now it's Pie, Mash and Mushy Peas or Tomato sauce.
I'm finnish and I would definitely try this.
I went here a few years ago when I was on London on study abroad. I sought it out specifically due to this Food Insider video. Great, solid food that wasn’t fussy and warmed your tummy. I opted for the stewed eels though vs jellied
The people making fun of this food have no idea how gently he held those pies.
This is the only cooking video I've bothered to watch more than once. Looks amazing.
This is very basic British food but still very hearty and tasty, if you want the best go to St John Smithfield, it was on Anthony Bourdains Parts Unknown and I went there a few months before COVID struck, it was some of the best food I’ve ever had.
That looks great to me. The green color of the sauce is beautiful
Paul unfortunately it tastes shit. The green colour is unfortunately just that.
Paul sadly it has no flavour whatsoever. Green is attractive to the eye but that's it.
Gareth Williams ah dang. That bums me out
Gareth must be going to the wrong place, the liquor is what makes the dish for me, one of my favourites
Rob French definitely on my bucket list. Just unsure when I'll be back in London
I hear people call it bland a lot but I really enjoy English food when it's done well.
you'd hate this place then. the food is crap
This place is amazing. I recommend anyone to go!
Totally a must try
The pie (without the sauce) looks good, the other sides though eh...
yimu rku the meat pie and sauce looks good, same with the mashed potoatoes but the jellied eel looks gross
Shout out to Edwards in Smithfield for the superb meat 🥩 👌
it looks great ... i am amazed about the souce ... the green parsley thing ...
Cookes had a place in West Ham Lane and I still remember it from the late 60's early 70's it had sawdust on the floor marble tables and bench seats and the food was fantastic
All my friends love this, maybe living in London and all them being cockney it’s no surprise as they grew up with it. Liquor with pie n mash is tasty and like the old geeza said, you ask for gravy you’re not having it the traditional way in fact I feel it’s nicer with liquor but don’t expect too much from a basic meal, the liquor does the mash and pie more justice with an exquisite taste.
Saw old mate here on Munchies first
I wanna try it, looks good to me
one of the best