After checking in at our motel on our first day in Albany, we went for a walk to check out our surroundings. I was on the lookout for a local bakery and gave a squeal of excitement when I spotted the Albany Pie Cafe. We decided to have a bit of a sleep-in the next morning and then come back to have pies for breakfast.
We bought a couple of pies and a quiche to share and sat at one of the tables outside to eat them. All the pies looked good and it was difficult to choose. But as soon as I saw the onion rings on top of the steak, tomato and onion pie (AU$4.90), I wanted to try it.
Steak, tomato and onion pie (AU$4.90)
The pie was full of chunks of tender beef, soft sweet onion and tomato in a tasty gravy. The pastry was just right – not too thick, not too flaky, puffy, golden-brown and crisp on the edges. Eating a good meat pie really is one of life’s greatest pleasures.
Steak, tomato and onion pie innards
The chicken and mushroom pie (AU$5.20) is made using local free range chicken.
Chicken and mushroom pie (AU$5.20)
It was delicious, filled with big chunks of chicken and mushroom in a mustardy gravy.
Chicken and mushroom pie innards
I love pies decorated with pastry that’s been cut into little shapes. I pulled the little pastry mushrooms off the top of the chicken and mushroom pie and saved them to eat last of all.
We also shared a chicken and asparagus quiche (AU$4.50). All the quiches are made using certified organic free range eggs.
Chicken and asparagus quiche (AU$4.50)
Like the pies, the quiche was loaded with meat and veg – in this case, a generous layer of chicken and asparagus beneath the soft egg and cheesy top.
Chicken and asparagus quiche innards
A number of the pies on the menu are described as Harrison gourmet pies or individually named “Harrison” – the Harrison steak pie, Harrison potato pie. Jac asked the woman behind the counter: “What’s Harrison? Is it the breed of cattle the beef comes from?” The woman answered: “No, it’s our family name. We’re the Harrisons.” Awkward! :D She didn’t look too amused but she didn’t look terribly offended either.
The Albany Pie Cafe
The pies are arguably on the pricey side, but the ones we tried were delicious, filled generously with tasty gravy, full of chunks of meat and vegetables. I’m quite happy to pay a bit more for a delicious pie or quiche made with free range chicken/eggs or local beef. And I always like supporting family businesses, especially country bakeries.
If you like a good pie, I reckon they’re worth a try. Next time I’m in Albany I’d like to come back and try the bacon and egg pie (it was much later that I wondered why we didn’t get a bacon and egg pie, seeing as this was breakfast!) or a traditional recipe Cornish pastie.
Albany Pie Cafe
358 Middleton Road
Albany WA 6330
Telephone: (08) 9841 3344
Open Monday to Friday 9am to 2pm
Salad, sandwiches/rolls, soup, coffee/tea, milkshakes, homemade cakes and slices also available
The steak, tomato and onion pie and the chicken and mushroom pie were both award winners in the Great Aussie Meat Pie Competition. Albany Pie Cafe have two other award winners: the footy pie, made with local organic beef mince, and the bacon and egg pie.
Next door is a wonderful sweet shop called Sugar Boy. If you love lollies and chocolate, you’ll want to check it out. It’s like a dark little cave of confectionery.
Ahh, the holiday memories… eating pies!
We always make it a point to check out local bakery pies whenever we visit a new town.
- Dobinson’s Bakery Cafe, Civic, Canberra
- Curry tiger pie, Harry’s Cafe De Wheels, Haymarket, Sydney – my all-time favourite, the king of pies!
- Hamilton Island holiday, day 2 – Hamilton Island Bakery
- NSW Holiday 2007-2008 – Day 6 – The award-winning Red Neds Gourmet Pie Bar. Our experience was a little disappointing, though. I’d give it another try if I ever visit Nelson Bay again.
- Christmas 2006, Part 3 – Dunsborough Bakery
- Day 9, Dongara/Denison – years later, we’re still talking about Dongara Bakery’s amazing pizza pie. In fact, Jac told a workmate yesterday he should try it when he’s in Dongara this week.
- Geraldton, Day 7 – Wonda Bake
More Albany posts
This post is part of my series about our trip to Albany in January 2011.
See the full list of Albany posts in reading order.
I'm TFP, a food blogger from Perth, Western Australia.
{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
Why can’t I get a good pie in California? Too much anti-fat and anti-carb sentiment here. The last place that tried crashed and burned. :(
Chubbypanda,
I have often wondered why the meat pie hasn’t really taken off in the US. I know you mentioned the anti-fat and anti-carb sentiment, but you live in the land of the supersize! :D Doesn’t make sense to me! :)
Mmmm, they all look good but the bacon-and-egg sounds the best. For some reason I am imaging hard-boiled eggs…. :-D
Rick,
It would be more like a quiche with bacon, I reckon. But I will just have to try it for myself one day and report back. :D
OMG!! I have a crazy craving for pies now.
Ling,
Haha! To me, that is SUCCESS! :D
Those pies look scrumptious! Beautiful fillings and tender crusts. I must remember to wear a bib before readin TFP’s posts!
Jon,
I think I need to wear a bib when I’m eating on holiday! :D
“Eating a good meat pie really is one of life’s greatest pleasures.” – never was a truer word spoken! :)
Oh my, those pies look amazingly good! And now I have a serious pie craving.
Caroline,
Less than 80 days until you move to the land of pies. :)
You know I was just saying the other day that I want a really good pie. Not one of those corner café bought ones that sit in the warmer for hours, bulk made and lacking on the filling. Which are hard to find here.
Those look very nice, and I can’t wait for another Harry’s pie!
Craig,
Soon I will be jealous of you eating Harry’s Cafe de Wheels pies! I wish we had a Harry’s in Perth. I reckon Perth people would embrace the late-night tiger pie.
Nice idea to put onion rings on top, would have attracted my attention as well
Three-Cookies,
Yes, it looked very attractive. Of course, if you don’t like onion it wouldn’t have appealed, but then that would be appropriate, since the pie had onion in it anyway. :) So it was a perfect garnish.
Aaaaaahhh. :-) Yep, the onion rings on top of the steak pie would have immediately caught my eye too. “I pulled the little pastry mushrooms off the top of the chicken and mushroom pie and saved them to eat last of all.” Oh gosh; I could just HUG you for saying that!!
I totally agree about supporting family businesses. This place is a winner, obviously; would love to visit and try some of those pies! And yeah, I noticed the sweet shop next door in the pic, lol.
Cindy,
I was only going to eat one of the little pastry mushrooms and leave the other one for Jac, but she wasn’t fussed about them so I had them both to myself. :)
The sweet shop was great. Lots of local and imported goodies, including English and American candy. Lots for chocoholics too.
You really are a child at heart! Saving the pastry mushrooms for last! ;) I do the same thing- save little bits as the last perfect bite! I wish we had pies like that in theU S.I guess I’ll have to learn to make them. New project!
kathy,
I always save my favourite bits for last and wrote about this in a post – see http://bit.ly/baconandeggroll :D
If you’re interested, lots of good recipes for Aussie meat pies here: http://www.taste.com.au/search-recipes/?q=meat+pie&publication=
Another place we’re putting in our list of places to eat in Albany.
When we were on our way roadtrip to Albany in our motorhomes, we stopped in Pemberton and had a very delicious chicken and veggie pie.
flower,
Yes, definitely worth a visit next time you go to Albany.
Chicken and vegetable pies are my favourite! Stay tuned, there’s another pie post coming (from the end of our trip)!
What does Free Range mean in Australia wrt eggs?
I was quite surprised to learn that here in Holland the term free range is rather misleading and I expect it is in many other countries so it’s good to do some reasearch. In the Netherlands, eggs classed as free range, are produced by chickens who share a square meter of barn with eight others and never go outside.
Quite disturbing really…
I did a bit of research and found this site which lists what the conditions are required for free range egg and poultry, the conditions seem okay quality but i guess you can’t always tell by reading a website.
I hope TFP you didn’t mind me jumping in there but i was curious myself!
PS: I’m a newbie here but i am loving the blog, especially how you include your travel experiences along with the food. :)
http://www.poultryhub.org/index.php/Free_Range_Egg_%26_Poultry_Association_of_Australia
Ack! The little pastry mushroom is so cute! I love how you pulled it off… I totally would have done the same thing.