'A vegan pie? Give me a break' - Richard Corrigan blasts British Pie Awards 2019 winner

Richard Corrigan has blasted vegans saying they have 'taken away' pies after a plant-based dish took the top spot at the British Pie Awards 2019.

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The winning pie was vegan curried sweet potato, butternut squash and spinach pie but it has been blasted by Bentley’s and Corrigans Mayfair chef owner, Richard Corrigan.

Speaking to The Telegraph he said: "Please, please I'm going to cry. Pies are supposed to be filled with the most delicious morsels of steak and liver and kidney, with the jelly and little pieces of fat in the middle delicately dripping onto your tongue.

"A vegan pie? Give me a break. The oldest culinary art form left in the world and the vegans have taken it away.

"It's a disgrace. The millennials have taken over. It's not a pie competition. It's a pie in the sky competition. We should all just retire now."

Head judge Colin Woodhead disagreed saying ‘there are a number of challenges to making a good vegan pie and this has cracked it’.

Matthew O'Callaghan, chairman of the British Pie Awards, was also impressed saying: "This year's supreme champion was outstanding and well deserving of the accolade.

"From its very appearance on the judging tray, you knew it was going to do well and it didn't disappoint when it was opened and tasted.

"This pie isn't just for vegans, it's a pie for everybody. With this award, we can truly say that veganism is now entering the mainstream of British food."