7. Square Pie, Spitalfields - Pie and Mash

Pie is my go-to dish on the pub menu (I think I might actually have eaten all of them). In fact, wrap anything in pastry and I'll eat it. ANYTHING EDIBLE, not dirt or worse. You think you're so funny.

Anyway, my pie love meant I went happily to Square Pie; another excellent tin that does what the label says. That is, pies. Square pies.

For me, it's all about shortcrust - none of this pot pie with a puff pastry lid. That is not pie. That is stew with a hat. No, no, I want fully enveloping, thick, lardy crust. The golden kind that's a bit soggy on the inside but has a good bite to it on the outside.

And Square Pie nail it. Proper pie with proper pastry plus mash and a side (peas or beans; so beans, obviously) and gravy in a box for £7.50. Bargain.

My photography; as good as ever

The List didn't specify a filling (of which there are many), so I kept it traditional with the steak and Guinness and didn't regret it. Don't let the canteen hot plate put you off. Good stodgy pastry, soft or crispy in all the right places, big chunks of beef, rich ale-y gravy. OK, the mash was a bit 'school dinners', but then I've never found it particularly un-'school dinners' (sorry, Mum).

Side note: The confusing highlight of the whole experience was when  I said: "Thank you, that was yummy", to a member of staff clearing the table (as you do) and she looked at me, shrugged and muttered "I don't make them"; as if I had mistaken the place for a family run shop and her for Mrs Squarepie herself.

Being in Spitalfields Market, this is a great place for a comforting, pastry-cased sit down after traipsing round all that London has to offer in the way of moustached T-shirts. Especially on a cold grey day. It's like a hug in a box.

Thanks Mrs Squarepie.