A young chef has discovered a recipe for success with his sensational pies.
George O’Brien, from Barnard Castle, is a talented cook whose Tuk In business venture has proved extremely popular.
The 20-year-old, along with his mum Faye, can regularly be seen with his instantly recognisable mobile food truck Pablo – a converted South Asian tuk-tuk, hence the business name – at Barnard Castle Rugby Club home games on the Demesnes.
And Barney fans looking for something tasty to warm the soul on a cold winter’s afternoon have been quick to try out Tuk In’s delicious pies, sausage rolls and other savoury pastries.
George, who also sells his pies and other treats in Barney’s clubhouse on Birch Road, caught the cookery bug as a toddler watching children’s TV.
“I have always liked to cook and there were some good TV shows for children which I enjoyed watching such as Big Cook, Little Cook and I Can Cook,” George told the Mercury.
“As I got older, I got into food tech and I studied catering in college.
“Doing my level three qualification I got a passion for pastry so that’s how we started doing the pastries – short crust, rough puff, you name it.”
George and Faye put a lot of thought into the fillings for their pies and pastries and they’re not afraid to try adventurous combinations as well as the more traditional recipes.
“Both of us come up with the recipes,” reveals George. “For instance, we have come up with a new sausage roll with chorizo, red onion and sun-dried tomato.
“We do haggis sausage rolls, lamb and mince pies, cheese and onion pies and we have a homity pie which is filled with diced potato pie, cheese and spinach and nutmeg. It tastes a bit Greek!”
George, who also works part-time at Winter’s Café in Middleton, and Moments Café, in Barnard Castle, is a trained barista and his coffees are proving as popular as his pies. In fact, his trusty tuk-tuk Pablo boasts a proper coffee machine.
But what was the inspiration behind using a tuk-tuk as a food truck?
“When I was younger we had a holiday in Sri Lanka and we rode in tuk-tuks and I loved it, it was such fun!” answered George.
“We managed to get hold of one that had been converted into a food truck and I called it Pablo. We take Pablo to the rugby field when there’s a game on.”
George, who has autism, described his mum as his second-in-command and they certainly make a great team.
“George has cooked since he was tiny and has always wanted to have a business,” explained Faye.
“He makes the pastry from scratch, it’s an all-butter pastry and that’s the key, he doesn’t cut corners, and all the meat is from McFarlane Butchers.
“George is really good at taste combinations and we often put our heads together and think of ideas for recipes. We’ve had lots of positive feedback.”
