Not pie in the sky
As the saying goes the customer is always right.
Leanne and Stuart Doyle from Highway Caltex Dongara agree.
After an immeasurable number of compliments from their customers the husband and wife team will enter their crusty creations in the 22nd Great Aussie Meat Pie Competition.
The competition is held in Sydney at the Fine Food Australia Trade Fair, the largest food industry event in Australia this year.
The event takes place from September 5 to 8. The Doyles will be competing in the Great Aussie Pie chunky section, along with an additional six entries in the gourmet section.
Mrs Doyle said she believed they were in with a chance.
“Pie making is an art. Great pie makers are born, not just made,” she said.
“For the perfect pie, the meat must be lean and tender, the pastry must look and feel exactly right, the gravy must be rich and the whole pie must look and smell fantastic and of course taste great.
“My customers tellme that my pies satisfy those criteria so why wouldn’t I be confident of winning.”
Mrs Doyle said it was not unusual for customers to ask if the pies were sold in bulk or available for wholesale purchase.
“We had people wanting to buy them and take them to Melbourne,” she said.
“We wouldn’t go wholesale — if you took the home cooking out it wouldn’t be the same.”
All meat is hand cut and the pastry wound by hand.
Mrs Doyle is a chef by trade and Mr Doyle a pastry chef and baker.
They have owned their business for two years.
At the time of purchase there were four types of pies.
Now there are 12 and all recipes and cooking is completed by the duo.
