I come back and watch this every few months to remind myself that I have no idea how soft he’s holding those pies

4 years later and scientists still have no idea how gently he's holding these pies

7 years in and I still have no idea how gently he's holding those pies

You know, with all the talks of British food being bad, I can respect the passion and dedication in creating these food. Stereotypical British food leaves me an impression that it’s food for the common folks, easy to fill you up and doesn’t taste overly rich. Being East Asian myself we also have fish jelly and blood sausages. Some consider them disgusting but It’s food that people created when they have to make do with what they have.

Dude is the living embodiment of the term “bloke”

He's alive And we just cut behind the ears And Boom ees dead

I had the pleasure of eating here, it was the best pie, mash and liquor that I have ever had. The friendly customer service from Mrs Cooke was top notch too.

As absolutely vile as jellied eels sound, watching Joe cook with such love makes me want to try this stuff out. If I ever go to London, I’m going to try it and report back

I thought I was the only one but after looking at comments I've realised basically everyone who's seen this video occasionally comes back for unknown reasons, guess we're not all so different

Japanese preparing eels: smooth delicate cuts East london: "across the belly, she's run away".

I'm currently in London, and wanted to visit this restaurant ever since seeing this video years ago. I met Joe today and he came over and talked with me for about 45 minutes, amazing guy, and the food was fantastic!

Watching this video from Fiji and I can tell you, I've come back here about 19 times in the last 7 years, drunk, baked, sober, chilling with my gf legit no reason. This is just some wholesome video and I hope they stay open long enough for me to bring my girl over and try it soon

lol remember when we could actually go out to restaurants. Good times

Fun fact: I don't have an Idea how soft he's holding those pies.

My grandad was from the east end of London he was born in 1925 & sadly is no longer around, he was also called Joe. Just watching this video reminds me of him he loved jellied eels, just the mannerisms and the way the people talk, it was so familiar. I haven't heard my gramps voice in years & it was like having him back for a bit 😊 I really miss him

3 years later and I still can't believe how softly he holds them pies

first time he met his wife he held her so softly she hardly knew he was holding her, thats when she fell ded over Eels for him.

Let's just hope 2021 treats us as gently as this man treats those pies

It's a blessings that your customers are always there even 60 + years. Thats a certification of a chef and resto that their standard never go down. Love his passion for the food he cook. ❤️❤️❤️

This is probably the most British thing I've ever seen and I love it. I wish all of England was more like this.

Every couple months or so I rewatch this and I don't know why. I've never had this food. I'm not british. I don't know why the video is appealing at all. Yet here I am.

Most memorable person in England (Present day) 1. the Queen 2. This man

I have no idea how gently he holds those pies.

After watching this clip for so many times, I finally made it there. The food and hospitality was great!!

If London was a video game, he’s the Final Boss

R.I.P. Peggy. They closed the shop when she died. To memorialize her death and in honor of her going their since it opened, she was a fine woman and great friends with the family owners of the shop. (Edit, The shop only closed for A day after she died. And I believe the Original shop closed down cause of Covid related stuff. But they do have two or one other shop open around London.)

6 years later and i STILL can't understand how gently he's holding them pies!

Was in the east end today so decided to go to F.Cookes for lunch because of this vid. Was lovely and chatted to Joe for a bit, top geezer. Truly lived up to expectations

It just occured to me. Joe's speech about basic good tasting food is the exact same ball park as Marco pierre white and his attitude towards perfection. Lots of little things done right is perfection.

I hope they're doing ok this year.

6 years later i still don't know how gently he's holding those pies

This man is so genuinely wholesome! I cannot get enough! I want to fly across to world just to eat his food!!!❤

"Better than that it could go into your eye which is fearsome I tell ya. It stings like buggery." Thats the most English thing I've ever heard.

Everyone protect this bloke, he's just too pure for this world

Anyone else come back and watch this at least 2-3 times a year?

This is one of my comfort videos. Always a joy to watch food videos and even better, a jolly person in the video with a humor or a big smile 😀

It becomes an aphrodisiac once you imagine you’re one of the pies being held softer than anyone can even comprehend.

Gordon Ramsey coming here to taste the food is the collab I demand to see

It’s weird how many many times I came back to this video, theres something so simple about their business but filled with passion

Every so often, it’s good for me, as a chef, to come back and watch this bloke make his pies. So simple, and yet it’s an art. Simple food is magnificent food. And I’m glad to be doing something more like this now than fine dining. ….id also love a pie now. Oooh there’s a craving. 🤤

Perhaps the most British thing I have ever seen

my soul almost can't handle just how wholesome joe is

Can anyone truly appreciate how gently he's holding those pies? This man is a legend.

You can really feel the passion he has for his food.

Admit it, everyone here comes back and rewatch this every once in awhile Edit: You see? Everyone here has great taste 👌💯

You can tell by the way he cuts the pies that he’s done it a million times lol

Now here's a man that I'd love to share a pint with. I have immense respect for anybody who does their job with pride and care.

Had to come back after 7 years. He was right, I’ve got no idea how gently he is holding those pies

I've been there with a mate 3 years ago. We're both from Paris but we had to go to London for a friend's birthday, so we made sure to arrive in town early enough to try this gem. Joe was the nicest guy and took 5 minutes to sit with us as we were eating, and tell us how much he loves is job and food in general. He even told us that every once in a while he and his wife would take Eurostar to Paris, eat in a proper parisian restaurant, and go back to London by the evening hahaha ! Freaking legend this man I tell you

As an East Londoner, I can confirm this shop and this man are the real deal. There's only a few decent Pie & Mash shops left around (This one. Manze's, Eel & Pie House, and a few scattered in east), But its good to see business is still going. Never liked Jellied Eels but pie and mash was a favourite of mine growing up. The two old dears are proper cockneys

I love this. Everyone needs a shop like this to go to. Spread love with comfort food.

I just came back after 6years and i still dont know how gently he's holding those pies

“Straight across and he’s ded”

"The bone goes up your thumb, which is a lot of fun. But it does double as a wart, which is very handy."

When you do it right, the people will come from far an wide. Keep doing what you're doing. From Australia with love and respect mate.

Why do I think the thumbnail is an angry chef bout to tango with Gordon Ramsay on an episode of Kitchen Nightmares?

I swear, he will never leave a fingerprint in a crime scene the way he holds the pies

this old guy is fucking cool bruh

I must have watched this 10 times by now. I cant resist how great this man's character is.

It's now the 6th year I come back and rewatch this just to remind myself that I can never comprehend how gently he's holding that pie

"stings like buggery" Well then...wouldn't know, but I imagine he's right.

*You have no idea how gently I'm holding these pies*

This keeps popping up in my recommended semi-annually and I still have no idea how gently he's holding those pies.

I'm not English and as a tourist it's places like this that I desire to visit. As much as I'm sure the country has many interesting locations and places. This is a relic of the past still living. History and something new to learn. At the very end of it all you get to enjoy a plate of that history and taste authenticity. Simply amazing.

It’s tradition to always watch this when recommended

"You've got no idea how gently I'm holding these pies"

i have accidentally watched this vid every 1 or 2 years over the last 8 years because i haven't "liked" or added it to playlist... youtube just likes to suggest it to me and every time i see it i remember how wholesome and genuine it is...

Wherever restaurant you go, the more elderly you see, the more legit it is.

OK KZfaq I FINALLY WATCHED IT

Went there today for lunch and met Joe. Ripper bloke!

Dont know how many times ive watched this. Love it bruv

"A quick bob splosh" is how I am going to refer to washing my hand from now on.

"But it does... Double. as a wart. which is very handy"

It's great that canteens still exist, somewhere in the world. Here in Finland they are just memories. It's good to eat warm, tasty food in the mornings, this is how you get through the day's. Big thumbs up. The program reminds me of my childhood and shared moments with my father. Eel was one of my favorites at the time. It still is. Father used to take me to the market in Helsinki in the summertimes. He bought us smoked eel. In those early mornings we would sit side by side on the stone pier and enjoy salty fatty eel with bread. Can life get any better? Thanks for the great documentary, it brought back memories for an old man.

2:54 the way he shouts his employee over 😅 "UGLY!" "YO!" "HERE" 😂

5:30 "roight if ye let me have a quick bob splosh" i think that's the most british thing i've ever heard

I always come back to the video every few years just to watch this mans knife work.

I watched this video years ago (it was before Covid, not sure when exactly), and finally went for the first time in May 2024! Joe was there, and had a chat with him, and got a photo. The pie, mash, eels (not jelly) and the parsley sauce were lovely! Didn’t get the jelly, my gut wasn’t confident in that one! Highly recommend to do when in London. Takes two trains from Oxford Circus, but not hard to get too!

Just went today. Pie was amazing. Proper full of flavour. It was immediately noticeable and I’m not even the type to notice stuff about food. Although I had to pay cash so bare in mind people. But you could see based on the customers, people had travelled to experience it. He’s a great guy too. Only £4.40 for a small pie and mash with parsley sauce (liquor). Lovely food.

This dude was the sole reason I wanted to go to London. I've watched this video more than 200 times, I told myself everyday that I'd visit his shop and eat the jellied eels. Too bad it wasn't open when I was actually in London. I had eels at the other place, it tasted terrible (just like I expected) I almost threw up. But I never regret a single thing about that experience. 10/10 would do it again. I liked the liquor tbh

This is my favorite food video on KZfaq. Watch it every time I need a pick me up.

this is the 11th time I watch this short documentary, it's fascinating to see a family business that runs trough ages

What wonderful workplace comradery: -Ugly! -yo -here Guy comes running, absolutely beautiful

I wish I could find something I enjoyed doing as much as this man enjoys making running this restaurant

Always love this video. Hope theyre doing good

The absolute essence of good food: good ingredients, as fresh as they can be, cooked and served simply but with love and respect.

“ It stings like buggery “ is an underrated line.

The food looks like someone sneezed on the plate but I know for a fact that the flavors are incredible. Mainly due to how gently he holds those pies.

I've seen this video multiple times. And it's comforting and reassuring 😊

Fantastic food cooked right by someone who cares about quality food, you just don't see great meals like this anymore. Eels look absolutely yummy, here in New Zealand we have smoked eel which is so delicious.

"I've been coming here since he opened this place" Me: u were born in 1862?

Why does this place look like there should be people in gas masks walking in and asking how the war in france was going edit for Loony Lunes: ?

The great thing about simple food is that there is nowhere to hide, its just the quality of your ingredients and your skill. When you have someone who loves what they do and are this attentive to every step, then you get something quite special.

I always get recommended this video every 6 months or just search it up. It’s such a joy to watch!

"Jellied eel" are two words I thought I'd never hear next to each other

I just found out Peggy died yesterday 🥺 may she rest in Pies.

I don't know why but I always come back to this video. I love it!

This was so wholesome I am not even going to question why Jellied eels exist. I'm just accepting it and moving on.

2:24 - "It stings like buggery". Probably the most British thing I've ever heard... XD XD

I bet this guy is more british than the queen