A few weeks ago myself and a few other bikers and their pillions made our way down to Watergate Bay near Newquay. Now I’m not saying we are obsessed with “Cornish Pasties” but this annual event is named “The Pasty Run”. 
The journey was wet to say the least but the abundance of quality Cornish Pasties (not to mention Cornish beer but that’s another story) was enough to make it well worth the drenching. As the name would suggest Cornish Pasties can only come from Cornwall. First used by the tin miners the Pasty was the ideal lunch to take down the mines (more below). First on the sampling list was the St Mawes Bakey.
The Shop on the harbour wall, sells wonderful Pasties if you are lucky enough to get one. Every twenty minutes a fresh batch comes out of the oven to be seized by the awaiting queue, all gone in five minutes. They’re worth queuing for too, delicious veg and tender beef in a wonderful pastry case that melts in the mouth. http://www.stmawes.info/cafes-delis Next we headed down to Padstow or Chelsea on Sea as it’s sometimes known.
The Chough Bakery is set on a corner, slightly back from the beautiful Padstow harbour, they produce a bigger range of pasties than at St Mawes, with various sizes and ingredients. The beef skirt they use is so tender and the seasoning is just about perfect, I have to admit I had two. You can buy direct from their website and I will be ordering some up for a taste test in the near future. http://www.cornishpasty.com/
So if all Cornish Pasties have to come from Cornwall how do the West Cornish Pasty Co, a feature on many UK high streets, get away with the name? Well believe it or not they’re all produced in Falmouth and driven fresh each day to the many shops. Now this is a mass produced product that goes out to over 50 UK outlets, one as far away as Glasgow but I have to say I was impressed. I tried a traditional WCP in Chichester after returning from the Pasty Run, it was almost as good as a fresh, straight-out-the-oven Chough or St Mawes. In fact I’d say it was only the pastry of the crimped edge that let it down but only slightly. To their credit they source the ingredients locally and have won The World Cornish Pasty Championship 2014 and 2015. If you can’t get to Cornwall and want to try a proper Cornish Pasty this is the place to go. http://westcornwallpasty.co.uk/cornish-soul
There’s loads more history here and even recipes to help you create your own just don’t call it a Cornish Pasty unless you live in Cornwall. http://www.cornishpastyassociation.co.uk/cornish-pasty-historical-information/Cornish Premier Pasties
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Cornish Premier Pasties
4 Hurling Way, St Columb Major Business Park, St Columb Major, Cornwall TR9 6SX
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Crantock Bakery Ltd
Unit 2 Lodge Way, Indian Queens Ind Est, St Columb, Cornwall TR9 6TF
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Crib Box Cornish Pasties
5 Mount Charles Road, St Austell, Cornwall PL25 3SB
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Dashers Pasties
63 Fore Street, Torpoint, Cornwall PL11 2AB
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Ginsters
Tavistock Road, Callington, Cornwall PL17 7XG
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Hampson of Hayle
20 Chapel Terrace, Hayle, Cornwall TR27 4AB
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Helluva Pasties
Suite 1 Manor Court, Cadson Manor Farm, Callington, Cornwall PL17 7HW
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Jessie’s Dairy
11 Fore Street, Mousehole, Penzance, Cornwall TR19 6TQ
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Philps Bakery
1 East Quay, Hayle, Cornwall TR27 4BJ
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Portreath Bakery
3 The Square, Portreath, Cornwall TR16 4LA
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Prima Bakeries Ltd
Wheal Rose Bakery, Scorrier, Redruth, Cornwall TR16 5BX
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Proper Cornish Ltd
Western House, Lucknow Road, Bodmin, Cornwall PL31 1EZ
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St Agnes Bakery
Churchtown, St Agnes, Cornwall
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Tamar Foods
83 Tavistock Road, Callington, Cornwall PL17 7TA
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The Chough Bakery
34 Dennis Road, Padstow, Cornwall
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The Count House Café
Geevor Tin Mine, Pendeen, Penzance, Cornwall TR19 7EW
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The Pasty Line
Unit 10 Water-ma-Trout Industrial Estate, Helston, Cornwall
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Trevethicks Original Cornish Pasty
Brian Etherington Meat Company, Wheal Rose, Scorrier, Cornwall TR16 5DF
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Warrens
Bosweddon Rd, St Just, Penzance, Cornwall TR19 7JP
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WC Rowe
Bickland Ind Est, Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 4TP
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