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Taste of success

Helen Johnson
26/ 4/2008

AN AWARD-winning celebrity chef is ensuring the current sweet smell of success at Rochdale FC is tinged with that of delicious gourmet cooking.

With only two games of what has been a phenomenal season left to go and Wembley looking a distinct possibility, the club could be on the verge of a truly historic promotion.

Sadly, the numbers of fans on the terraces are still not reflecting the club's sky-rocketing recent success, which is why the Observer started campaigning to get local people behind the team.

Now celebrity chef Andrew Nutter is hoping to lure Rochdalians to the terraces with savoury Up the Dale pies he has specially created to mark the club's success. If all goes to plan he is hoping to dish the pies up to hungry fans at future games.

As our mouth-watering pictures by Observer photographer Tim Bradley show, Andrew took inspiration from the team's strip when he came up with the recipe for the potato, bacon and leek filled treats with chicken and black pudding striped tops.

Nutter said: "I thought it was important to get a bit more support for the club. We should all be backing the Dale.

"I'm supporting them all the way to the final!

"This is the pie that will take Rochdale to the next league.

"They'll give the fans more energy so they can shout louder, and will taste fantastic with a pint of bitter at half time."

Observer readers can make their own Up the Dale Pie at home with Andrew’s exclusive recipe:

To serve four people:

• 4 shortcrust pastry tarts lined in pie tins and baked blind
• 1 Desiree potato - crushed
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 small leek - finely chopped
• 1 clove garlic
• 2 rashers streaky bacon - cooked and chopped
• A few splashes of Worcestershire sauce
• 1 poached chicken breast - cut into thin strips
• 1 black pudding

1. Take the crushed potato and use to fill each pie case 3/4 full

2. Heat the olive oil and fry the leeks and garlic together for two minutes until softened - mix in the chopped bacon and spoon on top of the potato

3. Splash some Worcestershire sauce over each pie

4. Top with alternative strips of black pudding and chicken - season

5. Serve cold or warm through in an oven with a generous spoon of proper gravy

DALE’S new pies were set to make their debut on Granada Reports as the Rochdale Observer went to press.

In an two-way assault on the senses, the Shameless – winners of the Observer’s Anthem for Dale competition – will also debut their tailor-made tune before tucking into the black and white pies.

As Dale begin their road to Wembley we are urging Rochdalians to get behind the team and are helping along the way with a new anthem and commemorative tucker. The Shameless’ track Time to Believe makes it’s debut at Spotland stadium.

Click on the video window to see the song being recorded.

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