Why are people reacting so to this? It's just a recipe, this guy's variation is his, traditional and whatnot, and it is his opinion that it's the best. So what?? Let him have his own opinions, you have yours, does it really matter to your life style either way??? BTW, I am a lazy American that will be making Cottage Pie without the cheese, because I am lactose intolerant anyway. Jerry, I agree with you, as I am also almost a full-blood, but whatever, there's no convincing them, I mean, they "discovered" our already inhabited continent, right?

I'm an American, but I learned how to make it from my ex, who was from Nottingham. He taught me to make it with cheese on top. His mother taught him, but she's Irish. Do they perhaps add cheese in Ireland? I'm not a fan of cheese, so I usually opt for no cheese anyway.

Hi guys and girls, I am british and I thought Neils recipe was good and his comments came from the heart, not taking the micky, just expressing his own preferences.

I say if u r going to do it right go all the way.. By the way Shepherds Pie was good :)

I found the recipe author's comments snobbish but funny on the surface, but after actually thinking about what he was actually saying, ultimately not helpful, because they aren't really true at all.

"Never in the history of the British Isles" has Cottage Pie had cheese?

Absolutely false. In my own travels, I've personally had many pies from UK cooks in the UK with cheese. Hell, Chef Gordon Ramsay's "Cottage Pie with Guinness" recipe even contains cheese.

Secondly, the notion expressed by the author that cheese "doesn't generally belong with meat" is funny in it's comedic delivery, but it is ultimately false as well, and not just in American cuisine.

It saddens me that the author has apparently never had a steak with bleu cheese, (one of life's greatest pleasures,) or countless Italian dishes combining meat (or meat ragu/gravy) and cheese, or the many combinations of meat, (usually lamb,) and feta in Greek cooking. And when you put the author's apparently anti-American faux-foody-snobbery aside, who doesn't like a really, truly great cheeseburger? Hubert Keller would slap this author down. Thomas Keller too. And Tex-Mex or Mexican food anyone? Apparently not for Neil.

This will probably make Neil from merry ol' England mad but I end up using taco meat leftovers or pork steak leftovers (cut into cubes) in my variation of this pie. Granted I do make it the traditional manner when I can. I strongly agree w/ all who say "to each his own". Neil, I assume you're in America, so, we "bloody" Americans are a mish mash of cultures and flavors.
Neil, if your traditional is true traditional as far as you are concerned, then God speed, and cook on, but let us do our own thing!

I'm American... no offence taken, infact I laughed. I made the recipe tonight. I loved it. I made it with ground beef as that is all I had in the freezer. It is by far the best S or C-pie I have ever had. This is a keeper and I believe the author has bragging rights as well. Funny thing though... I dished out the pie and sat down and my boyfriend went to the fridge for a bag of cheese. I did scowl for a second, then I laughed and showed him the printed copy of this recipe with your notes included. Good times!

Neil, I was in an English boarding school for a couple of years during the 60's and we had Shepherds pie once a week. I always looked so forward to having it since it was so good. Most seem to think you sound snobby, you sound like most Brits, to the point with a dry sense of humour. It is sad that Americans put cheese on almost everything. My Dad's family name is English and I would love to go back and live as I always found the Brits very nice. I once sounded just like one, I spoke Cockney, the poor people's language.
Cheers, keep on cooking.

Your suppose to put potatoes on the bottom of the pie first and on the top that the really english way.

I have read neils's recipe and his overly numerous nasty comments on the majority of others recipies. Neil - cut people a break! What they are trying to do is make a meal by whatever name is may be called. I'm you're a well bred british subject who is knowledgeable of all facets of cooking but as my mother said "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." Remember, cooking is an experiment every time you do it, it's never done the same way twice; its not an exact science and variations are allowable.

I find it hilarious that you all take this so seriously. You sound like 12 year olds fighting over M&Ms at lunch. haha

Having grew up in London and having learned to cook there, unfortunately my stateside friends, Neil is correct. Whether you like it or not facts are facts.

Neil, Neil, Neil,

Weren't you politically correct? Good!!! High time people start saying things as they is around here. Thanks for the laughs and the real recipe.

I totally agree about being so uptight about a freakin pie.... I have made this pie using many ingredients and the baking slowly seems to be the primary part of the best pie. my kids thought I was the best cook in the whole world when I made it the S-pie with chicken or sausage...need to lighten up and experiment now and then to me... That makes a great cook when you take risks.

I am an American, but I wanted an authentic recipe, not an Americanized cheese-laden short-cut version. Thank you Neil, this tasted like the Shepherd's Pies I've had in the UK, delicious. My only problem, I couldn't find Bisto, but oh well. I hope you'll post other equally authentic recipes soon!