The Pie Floater

The pie floater is a uniquely Australian dish and tastes much better than it sounds, in fact it is delicious! There are several variations on the pie floater with a distinct style originating from South Australia and another from New South Wales. The South Australian version which is even recognised as a South Australian Heritage Icon by the National Trust of Australia consists of a meat pie (usually beef) sitting upside down in a bowl. The bowl is filled with a thick pea soup then covered in tomato sauce and a dash of mint sauce. While the New South Wales version uses a thick pea mash called mushy peas which has a similar consistency to mash potato. This variation sometimes also gets smothered in gravy or a dob of potato mash. Our pie floater photographed above is the South Australian variety that is a popular late night take away treat around Adelaide. The variety on the right is the New South Wales variety made popular by a pie cart in Woolamoloo known as Harry’s Cafe De Wheels. This potato mash, pea and gravy pie is called a “tiger pie” after the carts founder; today Harry’s has several locations across Sydney. Harry’s other vesions of the dish incude a pea only or potato mash only topped version.