Rayleigh and Wickford MP, Mark Francois, who was born in Islington, North London, grew up eating pie and mash as a child and was therefore delighted to see a new pie and mash shop open in Rayleigh High Street recently.
The Star Cafe Pie and Mash has been opened by Mr Mehmet Sahan and his wife, who have lived in Britain since the 1980’s and also operate another restaurant in the Southend area.
Having heard about the new shop, Mark decided to visit and to sample their wares for himself.
A previous attempt, made by another proprietor, to open a pie and mash shop in Rayleigh fell by the wayside a couple of years ago, but it looks as if this new cafe (which also sells a wide variety of other food as well) is more likely to succeed.
Commenting on his visit to the cafe, Mark said:
“I have early memories of eating pie and mash as a child in Islington when I was 4 years old and I have been partial to it ever since. I have tried the pies in this new shop, which are cooked on the premises, and they certainly remind me of what I was used to all those years ago. A number of my constituents hail from London and will have grown up eating pie and mash and I expect they will be pleased to have this new shop available on the high street. When I visited the cafe it was almost full and I hope that it will remain that way in the future. I wish Mr and Mrs Sahan every success with their new venture.”