Recently, The Nanjinger’s attention was brought to a little expat hostelry in not-so-distant Yangzhou that delivers its home made Aussie pies all over China. Turns out the culprits are an Aussie by the name Ronald Smith (a.k. Ronnie) and his Chinese wife Shi Wen, who formerly ran an expat bar in Wuxi before uprooting to Yangzhou.
With pies coming in a variety of flavours, namely Original Mince Beef, Beef and Bacon, Beef and Kidney, Beef and Mushroom, Beef and Onion, Chicken Curry and Chicken Vegetable, plus other cheaper items consisting of Cornish pasties, Lancashire pasties and sausage rolls, Ronnie’s deliveries come in a protective polystyrene box that both keeps its form and the product cool. Inside, each pie is individually wrapped and labelled.
Departing the microwave and onto our plates, our first observations were the softer crust consistency, an effort much applauded, especially here in China, and the not so runny interiors that also make these pies shareable. Of the five Ronnie kindly sent us for review purposes, The Nanjinger’s assembled group of pie connoisseurs’ verdict was that there is indeed a pie for every taste; each had a different favourite of the bunch. The beef & mushroom was a bit heavy on the pepper whereas the filling on the beef & onion version is perhaps the most sauce-like of the five pies we tried. The beef & bacon offered up a smoky flavour with a surprisingly substantial difference in flavour considering that, on the face of it, only one ingredient had been changed. Then there came the beef & kidney that may also be a bit on the peppery side for some, rounded off with the chicken curry version which in no way resembles your local Indian, but then again, it’s a pie; it’s not meant to.
With prices in the area of ¥29 for a 6 inch diameter pie and discounts available for returning customers, there is little question of value for money, particularly when considering those accustomed to Chinese dining may find a Ronnie Pie to be a little on the heavy side. Our only criticism being with, at present, a minimum order of ¥300, one is going to end with little space in one’s freezer for anything else. That is, unless we throw a big Nanjinger Pie Party. Now who would be up for that? Order Ronnie’s Pies www.ronnies.com.cn
