If you’ve ever been to the upper Peninsula of Michigan, you may have heard of a dish called pasties. These are meat pie type items that were cooked for workers in the mines. The pastry dough was filled with steak, potatoes, rutabaga, and onions. It was an easy meal for the minors to take to work but the history of the pasty date back all the way to the 1200s in Cornwall, England.
I was not expecting to find a restaurant in Phoenix, Arizona to have these pasties. But that is what I found with Cornish Pasty Co.
I could not wait to try the Cottage Pie. This was seasoned ground beef with peas, carrots, grilled onions, mashed potatoes, and cheddar cheese all stuffed into a flaky pastry. It was all the classic ingredients of a shepherd’s pie in a handheld meal. There was a great savory flavor to the meat. The potatoes added a nice creaminess that held everything together. The cheese added a hint of saltines. They served a red wine gravy on the side. It was perfect for dipping and added an extra savory element.
I was interested in trying something else unique, so I ordered the Cornish Meatballs. These were homemade meatballs that were wrapped in bacon. They were sautéed with onions and served in a white wine mustard gravy. The bacon was crispy and added extra flavor to the meatballs. The gravy was savory with the tangy taste from the mustard. It was a perfect compliment.
They had Scotch Eggs on the menu, which I had to order. I love scotch eggs, and do not see them very often. These are hard boiled eggs that are wrapped in savory sausage, lightly breaded, and fried. They sound like they should be served at breakfast, but they are a great savory appetizer that is perfect for sharing. They do usually serve mustard on the side, but I like mine plain so I can enjoy the flavor of the sausage.
To wash all these down, we enjoyed an Aperol Spritz and an Old-Fashion.
Cornish Pasty Co is in a great location. It is an old industrial building. They have a main restaurant and bar area plus a bar upstairs and downstairs. It’s a perfect place to go with a group of people.
Check them out at www.cornishpastyco.com
Enjoy!
T
