Meat pie (Australia and New Zealand) facts for kids
A typical meat pie with tomato sauce
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| Type | Meat pie |
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| Main ingredients | Diced or minced meat, gravy |
A meat pie in Australia and New Zealand is a yummy, hand-sized pie. It's usually filled with diced or minced meat and gravy. Sometimes, it also has onion, mushrooms, or cheese! People often grab them as a quick snack to go.
These pies are super famous in both countries. In 2003, a former leader of New South Wales, Bob Carr, even called it Australia's "national dish"! For New Zealanders, the meat pie is a big part of their food culture and national identity.
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Where Do All These Pies Come From?
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Pie makers in Australia used to be mostly local. This was because it was hard to transport pies across long distances before good refrigeration. Many pies you buy at small shops might not have a brand name. They could be made locally, by a famous company, or even be frozen pies heated up.
One very famous Australian meat pie, the Four'n Twenty pie, started in 1947. It was made by L. T. McClure in a small bakery in Bendigo. This pie is especially famous in Victoria because it's often eaten at Aussie Rules football games. Other pie companies, like Sargent, have been making pies since way back in 1891!
In South Australia, companies like Balfours and Vili's have been baking pies for over 100 years. They also supply pies to football games. Mrs Mac's Pies are made in Western Australia and sold all over the country. You can often find them in petrol stations and small shops.
In Victoria, two of Australia's most famous pies, Four'n Twenty and Patties, are made by Patties Foods in Bairnsdale. In Tasmania, National Pies is the main maker. Their mince pies are rectangular, which is different from most other round pies. They also make "Cottage Pies" with mashed potato on top.
Pies Go to America!
Australian meat pies first came to the United States in 1994. Mark and Wendy Allen from Boort, Victoria, started a company called Pacific Products, Inc. in Marietta, Georgia. They sold pies to big stores. Even though that company isn't around anymore, Mark Allen and his partner Neville Steele opened the Australian Bakery Cafe in Marietta. They sell pies to people all over the USA!
Georgie Pie in New Zealand
In 1977, when American fast food places came to New Zealand, a company called Progressive Enterprises created Georgie Pie. This was a fast food restaurant that mostly sold meat pies! The pies were made in big batches and frozen at a factory in Mangere, Auckland.
The first Georgie Pie restaurant opened in Kelston, Auckland. At its busiest in the mid-1990s, there were 32 Georgie Pie restaurants across New Zealand. But it became too expensive to run, and McDonald's New Zealand bought the company in 1996. The last Georgie Pie restaurant closed in 1998. However, in 2013, McDonald's tried bringing back Georgie Pie for a short time, selling a "Steak Mince 'n' Cheese" pie in some of their restaurants.
People in Australia and New Zealand really love their pies! A study in 2003 found that the average Australian eats more than 12 meat pies every year. And a 2004 study showed that the average New Zealander eats even more, about 15 pies a year!
What's Inside a Meat Pie?
Food rules in Australia and New Zealand say that at least 25% of a meat pie must be "meat flesh." This can come from animals like beef, buffalo, deer, goat, pig, or chicken. Sometimes, even Kangaroo meat, which is leaner, is used. Most pie makers will say "beef" on their ingredients list. If they use other types of meat, they might just say "meat."
"Meat flesh" includes the muscle of the animal, plus any fat or other natural parts like nerves and blood vessels. However, parts like brain, heart, kidney, or liver (called offal) must be listed separately on the label if they are used.
Pie Awards!
Did you know there are competitions to find the best meat pies?
The Great Aussie Meat Pie Contest
This contest started in 1990 and happens every year. Its goal is to find the best everyday meat pie made in Australia. It helps to show off high-quality pies and get more people talking about this iconic food.
Pie makers from all over Australia enter the contest. The pies are judged without knowing who made them, so it's fair. There's also a contest for "gourmet" pies, with different fillings like chicken, seafood, or even vegetarian pies. Winning the main award is a big deal because it helps bakeries sell many more pies!
Bakels New Zealand Supreme Pie Awards
In New Zealand, a similar pie competition has been held every year since 1997. The Bakels New Zealand Supreme Pie Awards celebrates the best pie makers in New Zealand. It helps them make amazing pies and encourages new ideas in baking.
Pies are entered into 11 different categories. These include mince and gravy, chicken and vegetables, steak and cheese, and even seafood pies. Judges look at how the pie looks, the pastry (top and bottom), the filling, and the overall shape.
Images for kids
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A typical meat pie with tomato sauce
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The filling of an Australian meat pie
