Posted on by Cathy

Pie and….

It’s always difficult to gauge what the food will be like at unknown pubs…..reviews are good but it often depends on the chef on the day.

Haven’t had a pie for a long time we said…….yes, they’re made on site we were told

The first one (on the specials board) at a well known country pub in Yarra Glen (just never visited by us) turned out to be a ‘pot pie’ – with chips and salad. I really should read menus more thoroughly as I wasn’t expecting that.
Pastry topping was fabulous- light and flaky with edges rolling down the side of the pot. (Just as in some circumstances it’s not bad manners to pick up a chicken bone and have a nibble so I deemed it ok to pull the pastry off and dunk it in the gravy. 😊)
The meat (that strangely was a bit chewy/could have been cooked longer before going in the pot) was in large chunks so had to be taken out to cut into more manageable pieces……I know I have a big mouth at times but. ….
Anyway here’s a plus – a definite plus – it, the vegetables inside and the gravy were hot. – just come out of the oven hot. So all was not lost there

Chips and salad……unfortunately very tired

We ate outside in a sports bar area – rough wooden floor, bench tables, serviceable metal chairs! No one else out there except some cheeky sparrows who kept us amused ‘battling’ with each other over a chip that didn’t make it to my mouth

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So another Thursday rolled round, a free day for both of us ……oh the busy life these retired people lead…..where to today?.
‘What about we go to the pub down the road, the one on the corner on the way to Lilydale – another we haven’t been to for many a year ‘.
I’ll try a pie again – my back and legs were killing me and I needed comfort food. Also made on site so better still.

Pub food is often standard fare, especially seniors menus like this one – snitzels,, parmas, fish & chips, sometimes roast of the day and presentation varies from place to place. I knew what my order was going to be……however you should have seen the smile on my face when the young man placed this in front of me.
Stacking a meat pie on mash and placing onion rings so artistically on top of it all was a definite winner with me. The pie crust was crisp and flaky, the beef filling was pulled so no chewing necessary- it almost melted in my mouth, the peas might have been frozen but both they and the gravy along with everything else were piping hot.

The Golfer was not enthralled with his Nasi Goreng

The first cool day for ages so we decided to eat in the Bistro. A very large room with the visible kitchen and bar running down the room, basic tables and chairs with loads of room around each which encourages families to visit. Another quiet lunch because it was late when we arrived so there were only a few ‘old fellas putting the world to rights’ up near the bar – we shared a small alcove area with another couple at a table near to us.

And that’s my meat pie quota eaten for possibly a year or two 😊

Though nothing can beat them eaten out of a paper bag footy style.

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24 Replies to “Pie and….”

  1. That second pie really took the biscuit.
    You are so right about all depending on the chef on the day.
    When we lived in France we went to lunch in a small country restaurant….other customers a building gang. We had the best meal we had ever eaten – before and since – a fillet of wild boar in a red pepper sauce. No choice on the menu.
    We went back again…..again no choice. Turkey in a bland wallpaper white sauce! Chef’s day off and his mum at the stove!

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    1. You certainly struck lucky the first day…..some places need to have a ‘chef of the day’ sign so patrons know whether to eat there or not. Would be interesting to see who ‘liked’ who

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  2. Thank you for the pie review! That second one definitely looks like a winner, but my goodness what a meal!

    I love the phrase “putting the world to right” – I am not sure what other cultures share it, but it is very much a thing up here too. Often conversations with various family members end with us agreeing that we have done our best to put the world to rights, tomorrow is another day.

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    1. It did take me a while to make my way through it Jeannie – I just kept thinking I’ll certainly not need anything for tea after this.

      I’m not sure about the origin of the phrase, I’ve only heard that form here and in the UK. Canadian rellies say….setting the world to rights but they’re of English extraction so probably brought it over with them. It would be interesting to find out how it’s said in other languages.

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  3. This all looks so delicious! (even with the big pieces!) I am glad that you have gotten your “pie fill”!! (But that last one on the brown bag… well, that looks like perfection!)

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    1. That’s the ‘traditional’ way to eat a hot meat pie here Kat. Milk bars and bakeries sell them (also food outlets at sports grounds) so the bag acts as insulation from the heat as you ‘nibble’ on the protruding pie and catches any drips. No knife/fork or plate needed!

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    1. It seemed strange to have it on the plate with the pot pie. I ‘thought’ there would be vegetables certainly not salad. I really must concentrate when I’m ordering

      When are you off overseas

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  7. Gimme oone of those pies lol.

    No matter how many times I make them they just don’t have that authentic aussie/kiwi taste and texture.

    Obviously you need the right surroundings too for a real pie experience.

    And that 2nd one of yours looks truly awesome

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    1. actually, scratch the 2nd one. I’ll take one in a paper bag please and I’ll eat the top first. Just like I did back at school having one from the tuck shop for lunch!!!

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  8. That second pie looks a winner. I do like pies!

    I had to smile at Nasi Goreng – it was the signature dish of a very dear friend. Whenever she threw a party, we always knew what she would serve.

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    1. Hello Angela. Thanks for your concern
      We’re north of Canterbury Road, 2km up Liverpool Road so no not really impacted apart from having smoke hanging around and having fire bombers active overhead overnight. Seems Elvis has retired so this one’s name is Bubba…..It’s raining now which will be a help

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  12. The second pie looks delicious especially with those onion rings. We did not celebrate pie day and could have – there is one in the freezer – but eating a savory pie is an excellent idea. Now I wonder if I can remember that a year from now?😏

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