Thursday, June 21, 2012

Turangi Bakery and Cafe Steak and Cheese Pie Review


This pie was pretty tasty. I polished it off surprisingly quickly and it is no wonder this shop wins prizes for its pies. I had to have a steak and cheese pie to keep consistency but golly did they have a range of flavours. If not for a steak and cheese pie, Turangi Bakery and Cafe is must visit just to see the choices they've come up with.

First Impressions
Standard sized pie, soft pastry, thin crispy outer layer with a chuck of steak in the very first bite..great! Perfect amount of cheese, filling temperature was hot enough to keep tasty and scoff down in less than 5 minutes. Delicious.

The Analysis 
Easy to hold and bite into. Pastry was very tasty. Filling had heaps of steak chunks and the amount of cheese gave a great cheesy taste that was not overpowering. Gravy content must have been perfect because, I do not recall any fears of: drippings into my lap, mouth scolding or lack of tastiness. Its only downfall was that the scoring on the pastry lid of the pie made pieces flake off into the paper bag when I bit into it so is a little messy to eat.


In the end...
Great amount of steak and cheese. Delicious to eat. Was a bit messy to eat but not ridiculously. Loved the pie, would love another!




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Thursday, June 7, 2012

Wild Bean Cafe Classic Steak & Cheese Pie Review

Not exactly in the top grade as far as pies go, it was good enough to finish but I wouldn't go out of my way to get another. However, one should not complain too much when it's someone else's shout as I'm about to do!

 

(Wild Bean Cafe situated just outside of Taupo was were this pie was purchased)


First Impressions
A round pie that seemed slightly larger than a standard pie. Not too bad for a Wild Bean Cafe pie, it was soft and easy to bite into albeit a bit cool for my liking. I think their pie warmers should be turned up a tad. Oversized paper bag was good and made it easy to envelope and handle the pie.

The Analysis 
For a service station cafe I wasn't expecting star quality so there were no surprises when I found that it was a mainly mincey pie with little steak or cheese. That bad aromatic taste that makes me think I'm eating off-meat struck after the third bite but at least it was not overpowering and it certainly wasn't enough to abandon finishing my free lunch.
The pastry was a wee bit thick for my liking, it made the pie a little dry but its softness was perfect. Casing bottom was short pastry and think the the top was too, or it was a very cheap and stiff kind of flakey pastry.
Gravy consistency was excellent, not too thick or too runny, just perfect to hold the filling together and keep it moist.
Not exactly the tastiest pie, but my hunger was sated at the end of devouring it.
In the end...
The pie was sold for $3.90 and what I got was more like a mince pie with a drop of melted cheese. Not really a good buy but if you're on the go, and this is convieniently on offer, then it'll do to cure any hunger pains otherwise try elsewhere for a steak and cheese pie. I think if Wild Bean Cafe (Wairakei) is my only option I'll try their Angus Steak and Cheese pie instead and hope for a better result