Meat pies and big thighs • 06.16.08
One of the things that we’ve enjoyed about Australia is the chance to learn about all the different sports played here. For example, Aussie Rules Football is like watching cross-country ping pong and cricket is like watching paint dry. Perhaps our favourite Aussie sport to watch is Rugby Union. So when our local team (the NSW Waratahs) made it to the semi-finals we grabbed some friends and some layers (it’s winter here!) and went along to the game.
For those of you unfamiliar with Rugby Union, I’d like to offer a few, totally unprofessional, insights:
1. Rugby players are huge. Their thighs are as big as my waist. These guys are like really toned and fit sumo wrestlers, but with shorts instead of those sumo diapers.
2. Crowds at Aussie sporting events are really quiet. There isn’t a ton of talking or shouting during play (unless someone scores.) And, there is very little music played over the loudspeakers (how am I supposed to know I’m at a sporting event without hearing “We Will Rock You” seven times??)
3. Rugby matches are short. Two 40 minute halves = easy.
But, those 80 minutes do leave plenty of time for dinner. When in the USA my favourite ballgame dinner is a hotdog. However, the hotdogs in Australia are vile. So, my game-day dinner of choice is a proper Aussie meat pie.
Here’s Andy holding my dinner:
And here’s my dinner half way through:
That’s a flakey pastry crust filled with shredded beef and gravy.
The idea of a savoury pie is fairly foreign to most Americans. In America, pies are filled with apples or cherries or other fruit. However, savoury pies are common in the rest of the world and are practically a national symbol of Australia. I’ve come to really enjoy savoury pies whilst living here. In fact, I’ve even attempted to make a few at home! No big successes yet, but when I get it right, I’ll post the recipe here. In the meantime, enjoy the pics of the pie and GO THE WARATAHS!
