Introduction to Meat Pies

Many popular fantasy novels portray characters traveling through some medieval city who stop for a quick bite to eat and purchase a meat pie from some street vendor.

A meat pie?

Wasn't sure how I felt about that, especially in light of half-remembered comments about kidney-pie, none positive.

But then I found out that we have a meat pie place here in Austin, and I've been burning with curiosity ever since. You'd think they would have sold the damn things at RenFest, but I don't recall seeing them.

Introducing Boomerang's Gourmet Veggie & Meat Pies. 

In light of my fascination with the presence of meat pies in fantasy novels, I decided to try the traditional flavored meat pie on my first visit. If I liked worchestershire sauce just a little bit more, I'm sure it would have been fine.

On a return visit, I accidentally ordered the traditional again.

Boomerang's has breakfast pies, too, but they are picky about when they serve them. I haven't tried one yet, but I remain eager.

The traditional, tho, has completely soured me on worchestershire.

I also had a chance to try a meatpie at the Alamo Drafthouse, as part of some promotional menu behind the featured film. It was the greatest thing I have ever eaten in my life. I was a bit hungry at the time, which helped, but I swear that it was quite the mouth-watering experience. And, of course, they haven't offered them since, as far as I can tell. Who knows, maybe they got 'em at Boomerangs, and I just haven't tried the Steak and Mushroom or Beef and Cheese there yet.

In the meantime, I have been working out some ideas concerning the creation of mini-meatpies using a cupcake pan and mixing up various combinations of meat and gravy and spices. I think I could freeze them by the dozen and then just nuke one up any time I got hungry. Keep the individual ingredients varied to prevent getting sick of any one type. Serve them up for ad hoc guests who are hungry, or for kids, if you are stuck with any.

In the end, however, a meatpie is still just another way to wrap a meal in some type of bread before serving it.

Not that it will stop me from making my way back again, desparately in search of a flavor that will define me as a person...