Perthshire butcher is on a winning roll Firm’s pastries among the best in Scotland

A Perthshire butcher is celebrating after his sausage rolls were declared to be among the best in Scotland.

Stanley butcher Tom Stevenson’s crafted efforts scooped a coveted gold award in the Scottish Craft Butchers Savoury Pastry Products Awards 2017.

And the family butcher has secured silver for four other products – Scotch pies, bridies, handheld steak pies and steak and haggis pies.

A delighted Tom said he was “thrilled” to be recognised in this meaty ‘new year honours’ list.

“This is the first time we have ever entered the awards, so it’s great to get this kind of recognition for our products,” he said.

Tom took over the butcher’s shop six years ago, diversifying from the family’s long established farming business at Bankfoot. The family farm now supplies meat for the shop and is used in the award-winning pies, sausage rolls and bridies.

And the secret of Tom’s winning sausage roll recipe?

“It’s all about the right balance of good quality beef and the right amount of seasoning,” he revealed. “Plus a few special touches.”

Tom was one of around 60 butchers from all over Scotland who collectively submitted nearly 300 meat pastries which were judged across six categories in one of the industry’s most keenly contested awards.

Douglas Scott, chief executive of Scottish Craft Butchers, said this year’s standard of entry had raised the bar for the industry awards.

“Customers are demanding top quality and an ever-increasing range of outstanding products,” he explained, “and Scottish butchers like Tom Stevenson are leading the way with outstanding products made to their own recipes on their own premises.

“His sausage rolls were judged to be among the very best you can buy in your local Scottish butchers and we’re delighted they’ve secured a Gold Award from their industry.”

Ann Davidsons Butchers in Scone also struck gold with its chicken and ham pies.

And three silver awards went to its bridies, sausage rolls and steak and haggis pies.

And Perth butcher D G Lindsay and Son hit a silver streak with their products, lifting six Silver awards for: Scotch pies; bridies; sausage rolls; handheld steak pies; chicken and leek pies; and chicken curry pies.