Meat Pies ("Dogs Eyes")

Need a quick bite while in OZ, then skip the Burger and the Hot Dogs and sample a "Great Aussie Meat Pie".
Along with the Opera House, the Sydney Harbor Bridge and Ayers Rock the humble Meat Pie rates up there with the best known of Australia's icons!

Hot Meat Pies with Tomato Sauce (pronounced "tomahto sauce" not ketchup) are found only in Australia. Its a great "finger food" and marries well with a Beer or Soda. The Meat Pie is a roughly 5 inch diameter pastry pie filled with a meat stew. The secret recipe of "the stew gravy" is what gives the various brands of Pies their unique flavor.
Given the Anglo Saxon origins of modern Australia it would be logical to draw the conclusion that the recipe for the meat pie goes back to England.

The traditional accompaniment to a Meat Pie is without doubt a good "Slurp" of "Tomato Sauce" (Ketchup).

As a meal you can enjoy a Pie on a plate with peas and chips (french fries) or you can brave elements and attempt to consume one while standing up with a Beer in the other hand.

For this tricky feat you will need careful tuition for just like eating a greasey New York Pizza unless you know the technique you may be wearing much of the Pie for the rest of the day. Given that Pies are Juicy and Sauce is runny neither would be a welcome addition to your friends beer or your shirt. The proper etiquette therefore is to take the Pie in the right hand with a couple of paper napkins under it as the Pie will be hot. (Note: paper napkins in Australia are referred to a serviettes, go figure!). Now hold the pie at about a 10 degree angle and carefully bite out a piece of the crisp upper pastry edge, exposing the meat and gravy inside. Apply this opening to your mouth and suck out the contents. As the gravy and meat diminish from the pie you may now bite off more and proceed gradually toward the center. The tomato sauce can be licked off as you go to avoid it running down your hand. When finished use the napkin to wipe your lips and exclaim to your mates "a bloody good dogs eye".

You will earn considerable respect from your "cobbers" when you can demonstrate this adept feat without dropping sauce or gravy on the floor or on your person.

So go ahead when your feeling hungry for "a square meal anytime" just belly up and ask for "a Pie'n Sauce LUV", you wont be disappointed.

Your Mates,
Bob & Bazza