Are your products sold fresh out of the oven?
No. We bake all our pies on demand, to order, using fresh ingredients. Once baked and cooled, all our products are individually wrapped and deep frozen on the same day of baking. Our pies are then held frozen, ready for delivery or pickup.
Do your foods contain any ingredients which may cause allergies?
Our products may contain traces of the following ingredients: gluten, milk, eggs, naturally occurring glutamate, and products derived from these sources. All our pastry is made using butter made from cows milk.
Are your pies Halal, Free Range, Organic?
Where possible, we source all our beef and mutton from local Halal certified suppliers. Where this is not possible, we source Australian meats that carry Halal accreditation.
We do not use any pork or pork derivatives in our kitchen, or in our products.
Our poultry is provided through reputable local suppliers known for their free range products, and our vegetables, where seasonal availability allows, are sourced from organic suppliers.
Can I re-freeze pies to reheat on another day?
Pies once thawed may be kept for two to three days in the fridge prior to consumption. We do not recommend freezing pies that have already been re-heated prior. We also recommend, for optimum quality and taste, consuming pies the same day they are defrosted.
How do I reheat pies in an oven or benchtop toaster oven for eating?
Pies at room temperature can be heated, in a pre-heated oven set at 180°C, for about 15-20 min for perfect eating temperature. Pies bought frozen can be defrosted in a standard oven at 150°C for about 45 minutes to an hour – monitor the pies after 30 min. to avoid burning the pastry.
How do I reheat pies in a microwave oven for eating?
Pies can be defrosted in a microwave oven, on High for 2 minutes a side (per pie) – first wrap the pie and place the pie top side down in paper towel, then repeat top side up; prior to placing in an oven at 80-100°C for about 10-15 min for crisping. If you have a “Combi,” or “Lightwave” type microwave oven, follow manufacturer’s instructions for crisping the pastry.
How do I use a pie warmer?
Pies placed in warmers at embassies, hotels, bazaars, or parties are best kept at a temperature of approximately 85°C for no longer than 4 hours, after which, for food safety reasons, the pies should be discarded. It is good practice to have a water dish at the base of your warmer at all times to avoid pastries ‘drying out’. We do not recommend refreezing pies that have been defrosted and heated especially if they have not sold, or consumed, within a 4 hour period.
What if I don’t have an oven?
Pies can also be warmed using the “Dutch Oven” technique. For this you will need a heavy based pot with good fitting lid, an electric hob with 3-4 heat settings OR a gas range with 3-4 different size burners, and a trivet. A trivet, is like a wire cake or pot stand, that is used to raise items off the bottom of a pot or steamer.
Place the trivet in the pot, place the lid on the pot, and put the pot onto the lowest electric hob setting or smallest burner’s high setting, for 10-15 min to heat up. Open the lid and carefully place a defrosted pie onto the trivet, and close the pot. Check the pie after 10-15 min for doneness and then every 5 min if not done.
NOTE: Each stove top and heavy based pot combination will cause different heat levels inside the pot, so you will need to experiment to find what works best for you.
We have suspended trading…
At present, due to global movement and relocation we have suspended our made-to-order Pie Services whilst we explore and discover our new environs and the desires, wishes and needs of our local expat community.
Here in Shanghai there ARE two or three commercial operations, as well as a, “Pie Guy,” but we, personally, are not satisfied with the taste of what is currently on offer… after all, our pies are better! 😀
Be that as it may, there is much to think about: sourcing ingredients, customising recipes, communicating with potential clients, and of course, keeping in accord with local food handling regulations. This is China, after all.