Andy's Cherry Pie Cafe - Food and Travel

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Andy's Cherry Pie Cafe

Long road trips are fun, but they can lead to boredom - and with boredom can come fantasies about what you may be able to eat at the next stop. Sometimes it can be difficult to plan ahead, though, especially if you don't know the route very well.

However, on a recent trip to Port Macquarie (read more about that lovely beach destination here) we passed through the tiny town of Coolongolook and saw this place (above). Well, all we had to do then was watch out for it on the right-hand-side of the road to the north of the town on our way back south again.

And there it was. Can you see why we wanted to try it out?

Inside we were met by Andy himself, surrounded by a dense and delicious cloud of freshly baked cherry pie aromas.

Andy told us the story of this pie and it sent shivers up our spines. You see, Andy's father was a sailor in the Irish Navy. As it happened he met a sweet Irish girl who became Andy's mother and she was an exceptional cook.

The family lived in Young, cherry capital of Australia at the time, and Andy's mum cooked with the local produce, using a traditional Irish biscuit pastry for her cherry pies. "She made thousands of these pies," says Andy, proudly.

After her death, Andy and his brother were going through her things and found the cherry pie recipe in an envelope. Andy decided to master the recipe, then moved north to open this cafe. It is still a work in progress when we visit as it had only been opened a couple of months, but even so the parking area was filling up and there was a happy feel to the place.

The pie was so fresh from the oven, Andy had to be careful cutting it, choosing to turn it upside down to avoid shattering the crisp crust.

And indeed it was like eating cookies sandwiching a rich and silky cherry interior. Andy puts no sugar in the filling made from cherries from Young which he pits himself. He says he pitted seven tonnes last year, so the good news is that he should have enough fruit to make plenty more of these.

One slice is $6 with cream, and a full pie is $19.80, but the back-story and experience is pretty close to priceless!

Andy's Cherry Pie Cafe, corner King Street and Pacific Highway, Coolongolook, NSW, phone: 0409 890 493. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Andys-Cherry-Pie-Cafe/1113320892027622

- SallyHammond

Comments

0 #4 Terrible — Sam 2018-12-29 08:53

My son wanted the lunch pack and 8:20 in the morning and was told would not be a problem.. all food was given at an expensive price except the lunch pack which was forgotten about and kids small chips.
so we waited another 10 mins and went back to counter and lady said”oh yeah, sorry.. it’s going to be another 10mins”
Now 8:53 and only just received
Will never return

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0 #3 A slice of heaven!! — Samantha 2018-08-02 14:26

We happened upon Andyâ€™s Cherry Pies all needing a stretch and toilet break. I decided that if a shop was a dedicated cherry pie shop then I must try. Slice and Iâ€™m so glad I did!! The pastry was light as a feather and the filling was like heaven!! The accompanying cream was whipped to perfection!! Well done Andy for continuing on your Mammys genius!! 10/10

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0 #2 Thanks for your comment — Sally 2016-01-02 21:15

No, Andy's didn't prepare anything specially for us. We stopped off on a trip south to Sydney, and it was all as I reported. There was a fresh cherry pie just out of the oven, and that is what we bought and ate. It's a shame you haven't had the same experience.

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0 #1 They must have prepared for your visit — Nicole 2016-01-02 18:24

I have been to this establishment on more than one occasion and the be quite honest I found the food below average, coffee undrinkable, staff rude and slow and every time we have gone in we have been sent across the road to the service station to use the toilets as theirs are never working. Upon my last stop there again being told that the toilets are out of order my family and I decided to just go across the road and try their food. Well we had the best meat pies we have had in a very long time. The staff were friendly the food we saw coming out of that kitchen looked fantastic, so we will be dining and stopping there from now on 10/10 for Vili's pies 1/10 for Andys cherry pie cafe

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