8 August 2008

Pies: Michels Pastiserie vs Bakers Delight

| Maelinar
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We’ve discussed pies here before. This review is about one type of pie which has unfortunately suffered from the demise of the pie, the Steak and Kidney pie. S&K pies have declined in popularity, however if you have the taste for them, you will be one of the few of us who order them at every opportunity. Here’s a blow by blow comparison between Michels S&K pie and Bakers Delight. A Michels S&K pie is a 10/10/10 for comparison purposes:

BD Taste (Flavour) = 9
Size = 10
Ingredients = 9
Decor/Cutlery = n/a
Waiting Staff = n/a
Cost = 10
Details

Bakers Delight just don’t cut it in my books – instead of steak you get mince, and by virtue of the couple I’ve tried, I’m firmly of the opinion that kidney is merely a condiment to be added as an afterthought. While I’m not specifically discriminating against them, a purist will know when their teeth hit kidney, which will be sorely missed if you attempt a BD S&K pie. Beyond that, it tastes <i>like</i> kidney, so no hard feelings… By way of comparison, the Michels S&K pie has definite chunks of steak, and definite chunks of kidney – surprising given their market plan of dumping a shopfront in the middle of a transit area in a mall.

The michels pie is my immediate recommendation, I’ve not actually found a third retailer of S&K pies in Canberra (worthy of comparison). I’d recommend if you are a fan of the S&K pie, hit up the michels nearest you, over the BD S&K pie, unless there isn’t one, where a BD S&K pie will fill you up until you can get to a mall that has a Michels outlet – 9/10.

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Mr Evil – Now you’re talking! Couldn’t hurt to invite Jess.

Mælinar – *spoiler alert* I’ve seen S04E13 said :

@Matto – Bakers Best has previously appeared on RiotACT ( and here)

I’m sure the RA crew could organise a pie-tasting with the owner in their busy schedule of reviewing Zierholz brewery cum neverending story (not that I’m against it, but Sepi probably is).

How about a RA beer and pie tasting event, with female strippers – under the flightpath into Canberra Airport?

I’m sure sepi would be up for that! And we can invite Jessica Good too!

VIP is pretty good, as is the pie shop in townsville street, in fyshwick. (don’t know if its still there, though)

Mælinar – *spoiler alert* I’ve seen S04E13 said :

I responded, but time and space folded.

The hand of the admin is powerful.

I’ve said too much.

so will jenny feature in a spin off, do you think?

Mælinar - *spoiler alert* I've seen S04E131:34 pm 11 Aug 08

I responded, but time and space folded.

The hand of the admin is powerful.

I’ve said too much.

Mælinar – *spoiler alert* I’ve seen S04E13 said :

I’ve watched the Doctor die.

I’ve said too much.

damn you!

you have!

Bakers delight is a good bet for pretty much anything BUT pies.

Their best stuff is (unsurprisingly) the bread products… the dough is actually made/rolled/baked with any relevant extra ingrediencts in it at the store. Anything else (croissants, xmas mince pies) is trucked in pre-made (but not cooked) and then baked in the ovens at the store.

So if BD *did* do pies, then they would definitely be a less-than-freshly-made version. But it is unlikely BD do pies unless a LOT has changed since I was a manager at one of heir Melbourne stores.

The key difference between Bakers Delght and Brumbys is that Brumbys does the pastry/muffin/etc side of things while BD has stayed true to focussing mainly on bread. (Brumbys is actually a split-off from BD that happened over 10 years ago because the owner wanted to branch out to include non-bread products)

I don’t mind Michels but find them overpriced… go Dobinsons

I’m always up for a quality pie and ice cold beverage to compliment it.

Mælinar

Mælinar – *spoiler alert* I’ve seen S04E13 said :

@Matto – Bakers Best has previously appeared on RiotACT ( and here)

I’m sure the RA crew could organise a pie-tasting with the owner in their busy schedule of reviewing Zierholz brewery cum neverending story (not that I’m against it, but Sepi probably is).

That’s right up my alley. Just name a time and place ;P

Mælinar - *spoiler alert* I've seen S04E1311:00 am 11 Aug 08

@Matto – Bakers Best has previously appeared on RiotACT ( and here)

I’m sure the RA crew could organise a pie-tasting with the owner in their busy schedule of reviewing Zierholz brewery cum neverending story (not that I’m against it, but Sepi probably is).

It’s a real pity about the Bakery in Kippax. I had been OS for a while and longed for one (or more) of their Pepper Steak pies, only to find out it had been taken over by Saigon. Not happy. So packed up the family and headed her to Braidwood. It had been too long between innings. While I was away worked on building my own, but just not quite as good as the bakery, but a hell of a lot better than the Asian junk that’s getting served up to us everyday. Hey, maybe there’s a market for a decent Aussie pie. We all seem to be putting up with this second rate garbage. Might have to get someone on the inside of the Braidwood bakery and “borrow” their secrets.

gun street girl said :

crabb said :

Where can you find a baker who does a decent cake these days?

Cross the border and try Continental Cakes in Queanbeyan. Failing that, Bruno’s and Silo are decent.

And Dobinson’s in Civic. They are really tasty, and they aren’t too sweet and fatty and you don’t feel yuck after eating them.

Woody Mann-Caruso8:02 pm 09 Aug 08

Name any local baker that still produces S&K pie then

The bakery on the main drag in Kingston? Had one there yesterday…and a sausage roll…and a chocolate milk…and a half of Hopmeister…

Vic Bitterman7:57 pm 09 Aug 08

Totally got nothing to do with Michels pies….

But a few years ago when your daughter was turning 1 yo, we ordered a beaut birthday cake from Michels in Tuggeranong Hyperdome.

Rock up to the store on the morning of the birthday to find it not there.

Several phone calls later, it turns out it had been sent to Tuggerawong.

Foudn out then that they don’t bake a single thing in store, it’s all delivered.

Never been back to one of their stores since.

Elaine’s pies in Fyshwick and Dickson make really good pies .

Mælinar - *spoiler alert* I've seen S04E135:44 pm 09 Aug 08

My bad – I meant Brumby’s. I don’t pay them that much service to be able to differentiate between the two.

Regarding the other point – that’s why its entitled *spoiler alert*. The episode on Sunday is S04 E04 or E05, I haven’t kept track.

gun street girl5:24 pm 09 Aug 08

crabb said :

Where can you find a baker who does a decent cake these days?

Cross the border and try Continental Cakes in Queanbeyan. Failing that, Bruno’s and Silo are decent.

Hey, you sure you’re talking about Bakers Delight and not Brumbys?

I’ve never encountered that sweet gravy action at any Bakers store I’ve been to. I think it’s a policy of theirs.

I’m with Danman about the former Baker’s Dozen in Kippax – those pies were worth crossing town for, and the Beef and Guinness especially was a corker. Sigh, those days are gone.
Maelinar etc – I’ve never seen a Baker’s Delight that does pies – do you mean Brumby’s, or am I missing something? Re Michel’s – the cakes etc always look good but always taste crap. Where can you find a baker who does a decent cake these days?

Used to be an awesome baker in Kippax – they had medals and ribbons lined up on the wall – sadly they’re taken over by the saigon hot bake chain and now sell the gelatinous MSG jellied meat style pies that seem to be so popular with the asian bakeries.

If I want a pie I have to plan ahead – farmers market is the go – or Elaine’s.

Sometimes I make a home made beef Guinness and whole mushroom pie… now thats the ducks nuts 🙂

If it is what I think it is I preferred the campy old 70s-80s version with the shakey sets and the boom mic appearing in every other shot.

Deadmandrinking12:08 pm 09 Aug 08

If it’s what I think it is and it begins with a D I don’t know if their is a S04…I think it’s only 3, maybe?

Mælinar - *spoiler alert* I've seen S04E1310:33 am 09 Aug 08

I’ve watched the Doctor die.

I’ve said too much.

Try Griffith Butchery and Bakery. All pies made totally on premises, high quality product- you’ll notice the difference from plastic pies.
Also Dannys Bakery at Narrabundah make their own pies from scratch and their bread too, all products highly recommended +++

Why is it that almost every little country town has an awesome bakery yet in the whole of Canberra it’s so hard to get a good pie? Those Mrs Macs pies you buy at petrol stations rate highly for me.

Can’t help you maelinar, I usually go for the cheesy bacony tomatoey type ones. What series are you watching?

Not quite local but the bakery in Braidwood makes a very nice S&K pie.

Mælinar - *spoiler alert* I've seen S04E137:46 am 09 Aug 08

Name any local baker that still produces S&K pie then.

What ant said.

Nasty mass produced plastic pies by both establishments mentioned. This just can’t work, you have to go to the local bakers who take pride in their pies. Michels and Bakers Delight dont’ take pride in anything except money.

You mean there is nowhere to get a S&K pie that has been cooked on the premises AND is worth of being eaten? How sad!

I generally boycott Michel’s due to all of their food being trucked in from Sydney. I didn’t even know BD sold pies??

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