It's everyone's favourite mathematical symbol, a genuine
mathematical constant and the number the fits as the ratio of a
circle's circumference to its diameter. Whatever you think of it,
everyone loves a slice of π, so much so that the constant even has
its own day!
Pi Day is actually globally celebrated on the 14th of
March, but on Sunday the 22nd, Pi Approximation Day was
celebrated since 22/7 is the common fraction approximation of
π.
While our mathematical chops are not quite up to scratch, we do
love our travel, and so in celebration of Pi Approximation Day,
here is a comprehensive selection of our favourite pies from around
the globe. Since it's π Approximation Day we're celebrating, we've
only include 3.14 choices, so enjoy our mouth-watering
selection.
Shepherd's Pie
Spent a day out with the family in the great British countryside
at an idyllic village? Enjoyed some sublime weather until the
heavens opened and you are sent in a mad scatter over the fields?
Taken refuge in a friendly pub, damp but laughing as the petrichor
lingers in the doorway? You can be sure that somewhere deep in the
kitchens, there's a shepherd's pie being warmed up for you, crowned
with a wreath of mashed potato and a tipple of gravy. As the rain
scatters a merry dance across the stained glass windows of the pub,
you tuck in. Breaking the potato crust, the smell of minced lamb,
mushrooms, tomatoes and herbs rise up with the steam and hot air,
drawing you into a classic British feast which conjures childhood
memories of days out in the summer holidays.
This humble pie is a national favourite, one that has seduced
locals and visitors alike over hundreds of years. The potato's
impressive ability to grow just about anywhere resulted in its
availability to all classes of society, making it exceptionally
popular among the poorer people of the 18th and
19th centuries. The friendly cousin of the Shepherd's
pie is the equally delightful cottage pie which makes use of beef
instead of lamb as its meat of choice.
Tiropita
Now this little number is a real personal favourite. Hailing
from the olive tree shores of Greece, tiropita are wonderful cheese
pies, which are essentially just Greek cheese mixed with milk,
hidden in a phyllo-style pastry. The lighter tasting cheese is a
classic Greek choice, and these pies can be served either piping
hot or gently chilled depending on the season. Tiropita actually
are far older than the other entrants on this list, tracing its
first mentions as far back as the Byzantine occupation of Greece as
far back as 600BC, and possibly even further back to the Roman era
in 300BC.
If you ever spend time in Greece, do yourself a favour and head to
the nearest marketplace. There, among the calls of the shopkeepers,
manning fruit and crockery stalls, find yourself a baker and buy a
couple of these pies. If you're by the coast, take them down to the
seafront and enjoy sublime views across the crisp white buildings
and gentle blue ocean.
Apple Pie
'Well you know that Uncle Sam, don'tcha? That guy is about as
American as apple pie!'. Well, perhaps not, since this absolute
delight of a pudding traces its origins back to 14th
century western and northern Europe, specifically Britain, the
Netherlands and Sweden. Regardless, the apple pie is an American
treasure after it was brought over by colonists, found in motel
canteens and drive-ins up and down the good ol' USA. The American
version is often seen with criss-cross pastry patterns cut out of
the top, and combined with cream or ice cream. It's is widely
regard as the comfort food of America, a dish which conjures up a
heart-warming image of home, baseball, hot-dogs and an awfully
tasty American Dream - one that everyone can get their teeth
into.
What can we say about apple pie that hasn't already been said? A
pastry covering, sits on top off apples and sugar, occasionally
mixed with spices and other ingredients such as cinnamon and figs.
Elegant, beautiful and classy in its simplicity and humble in its
appearance, the apple pie can be served hot or cold and remains a
classic of the pie world.
Moroccan Bisteeya
And now for our mini 0.14 entry on this list, it's the Morrocan
Bisteeya! A small sphere of various meats cooked in broths,
combined with sweet ingredients like almonds and sugar, the
Bisteeya is then all wrapped up in a brittle pastry and served as
an appetiser. It's a fascinating pie for sure, and one that mixes a
variety of rather confusing textures and tastes into a very
distinct and interesting dish.
Naturally, there are thousands of different pie varieties out
there, many which are more interesting or tasty than those I have
in this 3.14-entry list. Sound off in the comments below if there
are any other pies out there which tantalise your taste buds!
And of course, Happy π Approximation Day folks!
