Taste Talk

Illawarra Mercury

Wednesday September 11, 2002

Kilmeny Adie

I must admit I cringe every time I hear the saying it's ``as Australian as football, meat pies, kangaroos and Holden cars".

There are a lot more things that are ``Australian" than that cliche would have you believe.

However, don't get me wrong. I'm also partial to the occasional meat pie with tomato sauce (the sauce must be inside the pie, under the lid).

But who would have thought someone would think to organise a National Pie Week?

Sound a little far-fetched? Well, it's not. September 9 to 15 is National Pie Week, an event that helps promote the Aussie icon and culminates in the Great Aussie Meat Pie Competition in Melbourne.

The competition winner gets to market their product as the Great Aussie Pie.

But it doesn't take a winning pie to uncover people's passionate connections to their favourites.

Some just can't go past the traditional pie with sauce, and others are into the more ``sophisticated" (read: gourmet) variety available from places like Shakespeare's Pies. There's one at Darling Harbour, Sydney, with outside seating, a stunning view and delicious pies.

And people are just as particular about where they buy their pies.

Of course, the Robertson Pie Shop springs to mind. Located at the top of Macquarie Pass there's always an odd assortment of cars, bikes and trucks from locals and travellers parked out the front.

And then there is Bryant's Bakery in Goulburn which, according to one pie fanatic, makes the best loganberry pie - bar none.

This week I want you to write or email taste (contact details below) and tell me where you get your favourite pies and why.

We will publish a selection of responses in next week's taste.

So what are you doing? Stop eating and get writing.