Australia’s favourite son, Donald Bradman ‘The Don’ perfected his cricketing talents here in the Southern Highlands before taking his unmatched skills to the world. Apart from his batting records, many of which still stand, he carried Australia’s hopes and dreams through the great depression of the 1930’s. The Bradman Museum and now International Cricket Hall of Fame, located next to Bradman Oval, are a drawcard for cricketing fans from around the world.
Many people’s reason to visit Bowral. Home to Australia’s most iconic cricket memorabilia.
It’s only fitting that we moved from one Aussie icon to another in the form of a pie at the aptly named Stumps Cafe. Stumps Cafe has a varied and well-priced menu and located at the entrance to the museum. A pepper steak pie was listed on the specials board. Also, a sweet pie, the ‘Whatman’ apple and raspberry frangipani pie, had been created for Pie Time. This is dedicated to Don Bradman’s maternal uncles, George and Dick Whatman, who many may not realise, guided him from an early age to international stardom.
Running Stats:
- Distance: 2.5km (that’s the equivalent of 146 runs in cricket!)
- Pie Time: 12 mins
Pie Charts:
Two pies, a beef and chicken were on the regular lunch menu. The pie special was an appealing pepper steak with chips. The taste was like being transported back nearly 100 years. I imagined sitting in the windswept stands of the then Glebe Oval with a warm pie and watching the Don make the first of his many first-class runs.
The modern take on an old classic. The Pepper Steak Pie and chips, the ‘time machine’.
- Pies: Pepper Steak; Sweet Apple and Rasberry Frangipani.
- Pastry: Held up really well. The pastry in the Southern Highlands is impeccable!
- Filling: The steak pie had shaved baked carrot as a topping. The white pepper seasoning added a mild spice that warmed the insides after a brief run in the rain. The Whatman sweet pie could have been confused for a crumble. It was served with mint ice-cream on a Bradman themed plate. Perfect.
- Cost: $13 for pie & chips; $7 for the sweet Whatman pie (only during Pie Time!)
- Sauce tax: None! Tomato sauce included with the dine-in pie and a plate of chips.
Southern Highlands Pie Trail Run
The Southern ‘Pielands’ Trail Run went for the month of June. As ambassadors for ‘Pie time’ we ran to all of the 26 bakeries on the official Pie Trail to see what they had to offer. See our reviews of all 26 bakeries, their stories and their pies.
About The Author
Warren
Ever since venturing out the back gate into the bush as a kid, I've had a curiosity to escape and explore as often as I could. It's fair to say that my curiosity has continued to grow instead of fade as the years go on. It eventually came time to turn a few scribbled notes into some legible stories and travel tips for anyone with a similar curiosity as me.