By Rama Gaind.
Burrawang General Store – dine with a pie – during Pie Time which is the Southern Highlands’ celebration of the great Aussie pie during June.
Make pies not war. Keep calm and bake pies. You’re the apple to my pie. Let them eat pie!
These are just some of the well-worn verses that must be resonating across the Southern Highlands as the month-long celebration of the great Australian pie continues.
The Southern Highlands of NSW can be renamed as the Southern Pie-lands during June, after the annual Pie Time celebrations were officially launched by Destination Southern Highlands in Berrima last Friday.
Steve Rosa, Manager Tourism and Events, Destination Southern Highlands, said Pie Time 2018 was without doubt going to be bigger and better this year with mouth-watering pie-themed events, tours and activities.
“We have huge industry support, loads of new events and tours for visitors to enjoy, and of course the most delicious pie varieties you can imagine,” Steve said.
Join a Pie Cycle Tour – Artmis Winery – as part of Pie Time is the Southern Highlands’ celebration of the great Aussie pie until 30 June.
“Throughout June, visitors can travel to the Southern Highlands and enjoy the humble pie in so many ways. They can meet local pie makers on the pie trail, enjoy the regions signature cool climate pinot noir and pies at some of our best wineries, ride an electric bike on the pie-cycle bike tour, enjoy a pie-tea – that’s a pie-themed high tea, or bake their own pies with pie-themed cooking classes.”
“We’ve got pie and pinot kombi, jeep or mini bus tours, dining on signature pies at 42 iconic Southern Highlands locations, and PieFest – our two-day pie festival which takes place at the Bong Bong Picnic Racecourse Bowral on the 23 and 24 June.
“We can’t wait to welcome visitors to Australia’s Home of Pies, the Southern Pie-lands, to meet our local characters, enjoy our events, our hospitality and of course our pies.”
Pie time attractions
Celebrate all things pies in the Southern Highlands in June. Pies come in all shapes and sizes with an assortment of tasty ingredients – both savoury and sweet.
Taste an autumn pie – Centennial vineyards – during the annual Pie Time celebrations during June.
Here are some of the highlights:
- Pie and Pinot lunches and dinners and kombi or jeep tours
- Dine with a Pie – signature pies in some fabulous flavour varieties from 42 of the Southern Highlands’ most iconic locations.
- Pie Cycle Bike Tours of the Southern Highlands
- Paddock to Plate and Pies Tours
- Pie bon fire
- State of Origin pie night
- Pie museum display
- NSW/ACT Best Pie Competition – 13-15 June: as the name suggests this competition will pit pie-against-pie with bakers, pie makers, chefs, cooks and home bakers all eligible to enter. The best pies are then on display and available to taste during PieFest.
- PieFest Southern Highlands – a two-day celebration of Pies at the Bong Bong Picnic Racecourse, 23-24 June. There will be loads of pies, market stalls, food and wine, children’s activities and family fun.
- Appearances by Pie Time Ambassador, Robertson’s own Nathan Hindmarsh, and Fast Ed Halmagyi from Better Homes & Gardens
- Pie-teas (a pie themed take on high teas)
- Pie themed cooking classes.
- Pie and Trike Tours
- Pie night
- The Great Pie Drive fundraiser
- Pie Time stays – check out the accommodation packages
Nostalgic memories
Partake of pie tea – Milton Park Hotel – when you visit the Southern Highlands for Pie Time 2018.
Having been a willing participant last week, I realised the therapeutic powers of not only eating a pie, but baking it too. It could very well be the answer to working out grievances and being in a state of tranquil repose.
Couldn’t help the flashback to the 2007 film, Waitress. Reflected is just that scenario with actress Kerri Russell, who in the title role, plays Jenna Hunterson. She works in Joe’s Pie Diner. Her job includes creating inventive pies with unusual titles inspired by her life, such as the ‘Bad Baby Pie’, which she invents after her unwanted pregnancy is confirmed.
Jenna shows us that ‘pie’ is an all-day affair. It may not necessarily be the case all the time when a portion of pie is a cure for everything … why relegate a slice to dessert when it can be eaten throughout the day.
With creations like marshmallow mermaid pie and chocolate pudding pie covered in caramel, attending Pie Time in the Southern Highlands is a great idea. How can you beat warm, delicious pies in the delightful surrounds of the Southern Highlands!
DETAILS BOX
Pie Time 2018 in the Southern Highlands
For more information on Pie Time visit www.pietime.com.au
https://www.southern-highlands.com.au/events/whats-on/nswact-best-pie-competition—southern-highlands
https://www.southern-highlands.com.au/events/pietime/pie-festival
