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You Say Pasty, I Say Pasty
These pasties are not edible.
A couple of days ago, I blogged about Cornish pasties and their protected status. In my haste, I realize that I completely neglected to call attention to the fact that pasties (pronounced pas tees in the UK) and pasties (pronounced pey stees in the US) have the same spelling but are entirely different animals. And you wouldn’t really want to confuse the two. Or eat one while wearing the other.
I have had no luck, to date, figuring out where pasties got their name, assuming that the meat pie version came first. Did the nipple cover industry one day decide that their product needed a snappier name? Maybe something resembling a popular quick lunch food that was popular with miners?! Your guess is as good as mine.
Pasties Need Protection!
The Cornish Pasty is now protected. BTW, who does this look like to you?
When Americans like food, they eat it. When the Brits like food, they give it “protected status.” Yep, like an endangered species.
Last week, the Cornish pasty (think pie crust stuffed with filling and rolled up like a calzone and baked) joined other British delicacies like Jersey Royale potatoes and Cornish clotted cream and acquired “Protected Food Name Status” by the European Union (EU). Read more about it and view a map of the UK’s protected foods.
What’s it all mean?
Well, now the Cornish pasty will get the respect it deserves: If it’s not made in Cornwall, it can’t be called a Cornish pasty. Pasty, yes. Cornish, no.
It makes me feel a little bit sorry for the food on our shores, so sweet and vulnerable.
BRITRISH.COM 