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…