Humble Pie

Don’t get too excited about that Vegemite, Rachel…

There’s a place called the Australian Bakery Cafe in the Marietta Square that I have mentioned before, but never visited. Since I have recently become acquainted with a lot of Australians and am trying to plan a trip there, I decided a visit to the cafe was in order.

Flags from all the Australian states hang from the ceiling

The folks at Australian Bakery Cafe brought meat pies to America in 1994 and haven’t looked back since. If you’re like me, you are used to pies consisting of crust and fruit, maybe even chocolate if you’re getting wild and crazy. But meat? That’s blasphemy. However, these pies are similar to those you might find in England or Ireland.

The counter that displays said meat pies, in addition to cookies and pastries

I wasn’t sure what to expect from a meat pie, so Rachel and I ordered one “Australia’s Original Pie” with beef in seasoned gravy and a Dundee Ham Sandwich. We demolished the pie in a few minutes and wished we had ordered two instead.

Rachel even saved room for dessert, a vanilla custard between two pastry squares with vanilla and chocolate icing on top. She didn’t go for the more Australian Pavlova.

If this particular pie doesn’t strike your fancy, there are plenty of other options, including steak and kidney pie (with real kidneys!), barbecue chicken, or curry lamb pie. Soups and salads are also on the menu, as well as breakfast pies.

The inside is on Australia overload, with flags, stuffed animal kangaroos and other Australian groceries for sale including Vegemite, piri piri mix, mushy peas and the like. Ideal for any Australian expat living in the metro area.

Happy and full after my meat pie.