This Cronulla Pie Haven Has Over 50 Flavours on Rotation
We Tried 16 Flavours To Help You Make Your Pick
The humble pie is more than just an Aussie icon – it’s the ultimate comfort food, the perfect winter warmer and the ideal road trip snack. While the classic meat pie hits the spot every time, pie shops are getting more and more creative with their flavour combinations. With so many good flavours on show, taking your pick is never easy. The seemingly impossible decision is no different at Cronulla's vibrant one-stop gourmet pie shop, The Pie Shack.
Baked daily on-site? Check. Packed full of chunky, soul-warming goodness? Check. Flaky mess all over your top? Checkity check. With over 50 different sweet and savoury flavours on rotation, it’s all happening at The Pie Shack. They are constantly coming up with moreish gourmet creations, ensuring there is something always new to try. On our visit last week, we got lost staring into their dreamy display cabinet, contemplating which pie to choose. Lucky for us, owner Holly made our decision easy, serving up a generous selection of some of their best.
Opening in early 2019, Holly and her husband shared with us how they came to open The Pie Shack, “As Shire locals we felt that Cronulla was missing a good gourmet homestyle pie shop - we saw the opportunity and went for it. Cronulla's relaxed coastal attitude and sense of community is just the icing on the cake.”
Every pie Holly served up had perfectly golden pastry, a crispy, crunchy lid and mouth-watering hearty fillings. As we sampled each flavour, we people watched as locals came in and out of the bustling cafe. You could see the excitement on their face upon entering, with their smiles doubling in size as they left with their pies in hand. Holly knew the majority of her customers on a first-name basis - it was clear that many of them returned weekly, if not daily for their pie fix. The cafe's homely and welcoming feel was unmissable.
“The Pie Shack is a natural extension of us, easy going and super personable which our customers are attracted to. We don’t necessarily view them as customers but more friends which really lends to the sense of community. Holly loves people and has a killer memory which has most definitely helped build a loyal Pie Shack following.”
Each pie was full of piping hot goodness, nothing short of heaven. In saying that, the Beef Brisket was definitely a stand out and the Yellow Curry would please any palate, vegetarian or not. We can say with certainty that The Pie Shack truly has a pie for everyone and every occasion. But even the experts themselves have a tough time choosing a favourite...
“That’s a real tough one! With a menu of over 50 different rotating flavours, there is something for everyone, however if we were both to agree on a Savoury Top 3 they would probably be our BBQ Beef Brisket, Chicken Satay and Mexican Bean. If Holly had to choose an additional couple the Reuben & Nepalese Lamb would make a solid Top 5. As for Sweet, Banoffee, American Pumpkin, Oreo, Vegan Coconut Lime and Mars and Kinder Bueno all rank highly!”
Now onto the tasting. We won’t lie, biting into endless pieces of flaky, buttery crust was a tough job, but this was one we didn’t mind doing. Behold, some of the best pies The Pie Shack has to offer.
Classic Mince
The Pie Shack whip up a mean classic meat pie. A delight from start to finish, it was evident that this pie was made from the best produce. Kept simple as it should be, this pie had great pastry and a decadently rich meaty centre, perfectly coupled with fresh herbs and caramelised onions. If you enjoy the simple things in life, this pie is for you.
BBQ Beef Brisket
The Beef Brisket Pie is as satisfying as it sounds. Slow cooked in a coffee and maple sauce, this smokey beef delight is combined with mushrooms and has hints of black pepper throughout. If you’re craving a hearty, soul-warming pie, this finger licking goodness is the perfect choice. We guarantee you won’t look back.
Chicken, Leek & Tarragon
The Chicken, Leek and Tarragon Pie was a nice change from the meaty options. Creamy yet light and fresh, this pie was packed with a well-balanced combo of chicken and leek sauce. Encompassed within their famous crunchy, buttery pastry, this was one taaaasty pie.
Sweet Roasted Duck
Slow roasted duck paired with carrots and spinach, all perfectly infused in a maple honey and bbq sauce... drooling yet? We have to admit, Sweet Roasted Duck wouldn’t be a flavour we would normally go for, but boy were we surprised. The combination of ingredients created a rich and tasty flavour and left your palate wanting more.
Yellow Curry
Yellow Curry was the vegetarian option, a crowd-pleaser whether you're vegetarian or not. Brimming with chunky potatoes, capsicum and the must-have ingredients of zucchini and carrot, this vego combo just bursts with flavour, from the very first bite. Both bitter and sweet, this aromatic combination really hits the spot.
Beef Roll and Spinach & Feta Roll
The Pie Shack sausage rolls were also a treat, so there’s no judgment if you get one of each. We tried their Beef Roll and it was hands down, one of THE BEST sausage rolls we have ever eaten. Flaky layered pastry encases the moist and punchy inside. One word: flavour. The Spinach and Feta Roll is also a great pick. Light and tasty, this roll is perfect for anytime of the day.
This bakery has sweet pies down pat so don’t leave without one in hand. When Holly brought out a selection of 8, our eyes were bigger than our belly, but that didn’t stop us. We tried Oreo, Nutella and Banana, Eton Mess, Homestyle Apple Pie, Peanut Butter Chocolate, Whipped Lime, Raspberry Lemon Curd and Coffee Cream. I don't know if we can even call them ‘slices’, have you seen the size of these things?
Our favourites were:
Oreo Cookies
Tightly packed and oh-so flavoursome, Oreo cookie biscuit forms the base of this pie. It is filled with a smooth and decadent cookie and cream filling and the perfect amount of bite-sized cookie pieces throughout... Genius.
Peanut Butter Chocolate
The ever popular combination of chocolate and peanut butter was another favourite. Made from peanut butter and only the finest belgium chocolate, the pie was topped with a milk chocolate ganache and housemade peanut brittle. The smoothness of the chocolate ganache was a flawless contrast against the caramelised crunchy peanut brittle. A match made in heaven.
Coffee Cream
We love anything and everything coffee so this pie went down a treat. With three layers of mouth-watering goodness, each bite kept us wanting more. The base is made from Belgium chocolate and double roasted coffee, followed by a gooey, soft-centred brownie. The third layer is a delicious sweetened coffee cream, tying all the flavours in perfectly.
So if you’re ready to tuck into a next level pie, make your way to The Pie Shack this week. We hope this takes the stress out of choosing the right pie to satisfy your craving. Now the hardest choice is Tomato sauce or BBQ? Knife and fork at the cafe or straight out of the paper bag on Cronulla beach? No matter how you enjoy them, we know you’ll find a winner here.
Now, onto visit two...
Image Credit: Nu Level Media
Posted August, 2020
