The Meat Pie is as iconic as they come as far as Australia’s National Dish is concerned. This hand held package of pastry, meat and gravy is as much lauded as it is loathed (body parts and gravy anyone?). Despite that, [...]]]> 29 Block Place, Melbourne
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The Meat Pie is as iconic as they come as far as Australia’s National Dish is concerned. This hand held package of pastry, meat and gravy is as much lauded as it is loathed (body parts and gravy anyone?). Despite that, I reckon you can’t beat a good meat pie, and one of the more traditional versions can be found at Dinkum Pies in Block Place.

This pie shop feels like it has been time-warped out of country Victoria circa 1960.  The shopfront and decor is incredibly retro, and not in that forced designer cool kind of way either. This my friends is the real deal.  Inside…well, lets just say that your eyes won’t rest long for want of something to read while you consume your pie. Laminated posters adorn most of the walls, with one particularly amusing piece advising “When it’s brown it’s cooked. When it’s black it’s buggered.”

Luckily we chose the non-buggered versions. To start with the pie case is made with a good shortcrust pastry – firm and not too soggy. Then check out the layers of lovely buttery yellowy puffy pastry on top! You can just tell that this is going to taste good.

Inside, the beef, gravy and mushrooms (yes, you can see one peeking through to the left) is hearty and flavoursome. Slather the lot in tomato sauce and bite in, careful not to scorch the roof of your mouth.

Or you might go a Shepherd’s (otherwise known as the Meat and Potato) – short crust pastry filled with a beef mince, carrot, onion, celery and tomato gravy. Instead of a puff pastry top, a piped swirl of yellow mashed potato prevents the meat from escaping.

Along with the regulars (and yes, they even have vegetarian pies), they also do a roaring trade in country bakery type pastries; hedgehogs, apple cakes, matchsticks, fruit mince slices, scones, yo yo’s and eclairs.

For more Dinkum Pie goodness check out the review at Secret Melbourne. But if it’s just pies you’re after, you can’t go past Piecon.

I just love that you can find such an honest, authentic, down to earth bit of Australiana smack bang in the CBD.  All is not lost!