FILM crews have been a regular sight at a pie and mash shop this week, after it was used as a set for The Only Way is Essex (TOWIE) and a celebrity chef show.
Joey Essex, from the cast of TOWIE, served food from Tony’s Pie and Mash in Waltham Abbey Market Square at his animal-themed pool party on Wednesday night’s show, visiting the shop to taste the pies earlier in the week, along with his sister Frankie and friend Kirk Norcross.
Owner Tony Lane said: “They tried it and loved it. I got to meet Joey, Frankie and Kirk and they were really nice people.
“They were all really easy to work with.”
Mr Lane, who had a line in Wednesday night’s show, said the producers of TOWIE called him out of the blue.
“They wanted to use a traditional pie and mash shop in the area and we’re the best around,” he added. “I think we’ve got quite a reputation now.”
His cooking skills were put to the test today (Friday) when he was filmed showing his recipe to top Austrian chef Sarah Wiener.
“She’s like their Gordon Ramsay,” he said. “She did her own version with organic ingredients for a panel of judges, but hopefully, they’ll prefer mine.
“They just called out of the blue as well.”
The programme is due to be screened in the UK next year.
The shop made the headlines earlier this year when David Beckham bought a round of pie and mash for Tottenham Hotspurs players after he left their Chigwell training ground.
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