Wednesday, October 13, 2010

I Ate A Harry Pie And I Liked It

This past Sunday I had another food first in Australia: I ate a pie. And not just any pie, but a Harry’s pie. Australians, by the way, are obsessed with pies, and probably not the type of pie that comes to your American mind. In the U.S. a pie equals a pizza pie or a dessert that comes in many flavors and variations (my personal favorite is apple pie). But in Aussie land the most common and popular pie filling is MEAT. And Harry’s Café de Wheels has the most famous, meatiest pies in all of Sydney, maybe even Australia. Harry’s is a moveable food van that is quintessential Sydney icon. My Lonely Planet guidebook insists that “You have not been to Australia until you’ve had a pie, and Harry’s serves up some of the best. For over 50 years cabbies, sailors and Saturday night party people have slurred orders over Harry’s famous counter.” Obviously this must-eat- at-place was on my must-do list, and to my delight I learned that the one and only Harry’s Café de Wheels was located just a few blocks away from my abode in Woolloomooloo Wharf. This was glorious news, given to me by my roommate Norman who is a frequent visitor to the café and a devoted fan of Harry’s hotdogs (of all things). Sunday afternoon he said he was going, and I immediately threw on my jacket and shoes to tag along.

Harry's Cafe de Wheels
Harry’s was a small box randomly located along the water’s edge and between a winding street. There was no inside, no place to sit and eat your pie. You simply walked up to the window and placed your order, just like at an ice cream shop. Deciding what to order was not easy. I am unfamiliar with the world of meat pies and had no clue what I liked and disliked. Underneath the Harry’s sign was the word “Tiger” printed boldly. Intrigued, I looked at the menu and saw that the Tiger was Harry’s signature dish, a “chunky lean beef pie served with mushy peas, mash and gravy.” Let me just stop here to say that Australians also love their mashed peas; they are one hot commodity. In the states, peas quite possibly could be the most disliked vegetable (or maybe that’s just my own personal experience). Peas are something newborn babies eat. Peas are what princesses sleep on in fairytales. Peas are not something people mash up and enjoy eating regularly.  Thus I was a little uncertain about the whole mashed-pea part of the Tiger, but Harry’s was famous not just for its pies but also its mashed peas (so the sign said), so I embraced the tiger mentality and decided to go for it.

The TIGER Pie

Harry’s did not disappoint. The Tiger was a big ‘ol monster of pie, potato and peas. It sort of looked like Oscar the Grouch coming out of his garbage can. Fortunately, it didn’t taste like garbage. It was enjoyable to eat. It was messy to eat. And it was fun trying to figure out how to even go about eating this massive heap of stuff. I can tell you that there is no right, polite or lady-like way to do it. Girls, avoid Harry’s on a first date if you are looking to impress the fellow. I was not. And so I dug in and did not come up to breath until I had devourered the tiger, peas and all. Do I think I will crave a Harry Tiger again? Probably not; I’m not a huge steak eater or craver. But my interest in pies has certainly been piqued, and I fully intend to return to Harry’s to try their other pies until I find my meaty pie flavor of choice. I’m already trying to decide which I should try next, the Curry Chicken Pie or the Chicken & Mushroom Pie? Or maybe I’ll opt for the Beef, Cheese & Bacon Pie. Decisions, decisions…

5 comments:

Marilyn said...

Dear Sarah,
I love peas (fresh and frozen, not canned) and your cousins Robert and Sam have grown up enjoying peas unaware that they are disliked by many. Does anyone remember the short-lived frozen food product "I Hate Peas" - peas partially camouflaged within a french fry. I hope you can return to Harry's soon. Thanks for your joyful, entertaining blog.
Love, Aunt Marilyn

Greg "The Cheesecake Guy" said...

Okay, that's it! I just had breakfast and you made me hungry. I'm coming to Sydney just to eat. The peas would be okay with me, but I have to confess that the curry chicken and the chicken mushroom both sound better. Ah, to eat my way across a new continent one bite at a time!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Sarah, your mom shared your blog with me from the beginning and I am just getting around to reading it. I started last night and finished this morning. I was going to continue with it later, however, it was like a good book and I couldn't put it down! What an absolutely great experience and so envious! When you get home you really should look into publishing this, it has made me smile and laugh out loud throughout the blog and at your expense. Now don't take that wrong, you do know that I am laughing with you and not at you!

According to my three year old grandson, Chicklets are a good thing. " It is the only gum that doesn't have Aspertane and Aspertane isn't any good for you". Great name for the cotton candy!

I knew I should have taken notes so that I would have remembered what it was that I wanted to comment about! Darn!!!

I'm glad that you are behind because it gave me a chance to catch up and now I will be looking forward to your next post, which I realize are very time consuming, but oh so enjoyable to read for all of us stuck in the states living your dream through a blog. Please find time for your posts so that we all receive our daily allowance of laughter!!

I met your mom on the very first day of my job (about 18 years ago), connected again years later at Overlook, and now I have been working in the same building with her for the part three years, turning her into a GEEK!

Keep on blogging ... Cheryl Formont

Anonymous said...

Hi Sarah,

I'm not a fan of peas (definitely one of my least favorite foods along with Lima beans), but that meat pie sounds good. The others sound great, too! Hope you get to try more. Been a little behind on your blog because of some travels of my own, but am enjoying catching up!

Your mom's friend Sue

yuck said...

ummmm...no thanks. to any pie. so dont even try!!! haha. oh, and ginny makes shepard's pie (which is a pie with meat)...so its not to foreign.