Manze Pie & Mash Shop

To sample a traditional London meal of pie and mash, a visit to Manze - the oldest eel and pie shop in business today - is a must. The menu is simple of pie, mash (or mashed potatoes), jellied eels, and a choice of liquor or gravy. You can order a single pie and mash (single serving of pie and a single serving of mashed potatoes) for £2.80 for a satisfying meal or go as far as double pie double mash, which will quell even the most extreme of hunger pains.

The mashed potato is scraped onto the side of the plate, pie set next to it, and a generous pouring of gravy or liquor ladled on top of the pie, dammed in by the mash. The pies are made with minced beef, but for vegetarians, a soya based pie filling is used. The meat inside is very tender and flavorful. Liquor is actually a type of parsley sauce with a lightly starchy flavor from the roux. It is traditionally made from the water kept from eel preparation. The subtle flavor of the liquor goes well with the potato mash and the pie. You can also add your own chili malt vinegar as desired.

Manze is worth a visit south of the river for lunch, as it is a short distance from major tourist destinations. Celebrities including David Beckham are said not to be able to resist a pie from Manze's when in the area. Pie and mash from Manze's could be said as a notable requirement to complete your London experience.

M. Manze: The Noted Eel & Pie Houses. 87 Tower Bridge Road, Bermondsey, London, SE1 4TW. www.manze.co.uk