[RagingBrit]

First off what a great place this is so glad I found it..I really hope one of you will have the answer to my question,I have been head chef at a British restaurant (in Canada)for the last year,the owner has decided to go with a company that delivers meals from several high quality restaurants most of our food transports well the one meal that we are having problems with is the Steak and Kidney Pie,I usually make them all up in ceramic dishes served straight out of the oven to the customers,i can keep some of the mix and use foil containers when needed for take out but it is the pastry that has me stumped if I keep some thawed it will go off if not used quickly and I am not sure if cooking from frozen would work very well,and if we get round this then we still have to find some sort of packaging to pack it in to save the pastry from getting crushed...sorry this sounds a bit pathetic but it is confusing me greatly...

[Vera Bradley]

Is your main problem with the delivery of the finished product - keeping the pastry crusts from being damaged in transport? Buy lightweight metal (not foil) individual pie pans that will fit fairly snugly inside small cardboard cake boxes. Make a notation on your carry-out/online menu that delivered steak & kidney pies will cost an extra £1 (or whatever amount) due to specialty packaging.

I've baked individual savory pies (seafood or chicken and veggie) starting in pastry that I had placed into pans and pre-frozen, without thawing first. No problems noted.

On the other hand, if you are having problems with the top crust only... if thawing and resting the pastry dough take too much time, then could you possibly use a topping of buttered bread crumbs instead - browned under the salamander, for the boxed carry-out pies?

Of course, you might be able to insist upon reserving certain items for dine-in service only, to preserve quality standards.

I hope someone else has better ideas for you, Chef. Good luck!

[RagingBrit]

Thanks Vera,I appreciate your help,it has made me think very carefully about whether it is worth while having it for delivery and thankfully we have decided to keep it as an eat in option only I am glad you suggested it I think we all went into panic mode and lost all clear thought...