Westwood: Garlo’s Aussie Pie Shop

 

Garlo’s Aussie Pie Shop has opened its first store in the US in Westwood. I was invited to check out the space and sample a couple of pies. First, a brief background on Aussie pies. Some Australians might say their culinary background is very similar to British food. And as a result you’ll see a lot of stuff with gravy and fries (chips). However the pies have become the favorite portable snack food down under. Garlo’s and other pie shops in L.A. are counting on expats but also to introduce the treats to Americans.

Garlo’s did a great job with picking out a store in Westwood where thousands of students could potentially grab a pie for breakfast, lunch or dinner. They heat up very well if you want to keep one or some for later. They’re also very reasonably priced. You can have a pie with a combo meal for just under $5. That includes a drink!

 

I had envisioned little pot pies and they do look a bit like that but perhaps with flatter tops. There are also sausage rolls. And if you get there before 11 a.m., the breakfast pies are bit more like quiche.

 

Luckily Garlo’s serves miniture versions of the pies and rolls. They call them sliders. I tried a sausage roll slider, beef pie slider and chicken pie slider along with mushy peas and mashed potatoes. I’ve had mushy peas before and like them but had never had gravy on top of them. Later we learned that Australians like ketchup on their pies as well.

 

We also tried a spinach and cheese pastie. I asked about the crust on the pies, rolls and pasties. Garlo’s imports a special Australian margarine for those flaky crusts.

The next day I heated up a bacon and cheese pie. Oh, it was so good! That one was my favorite. I’d like to return though and try the curry lean beef pie or their nod to California- the fajita chicken pie.

 

 

Garlo’s Aussie Pie Shop

1010 Glendon Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90024  —  (310) 208-3777

 

© The Minty  2014