The testing of pies

Over the last couple of trips I have taken to reviewing the pies I have had for lunch most days.  On this trip I have also discussed the offerings with Frances and think I can offer a summary of the factors considered in arriving at a rating.  I will also see if can attach scores to each factor.

1. Basic taste according to style.  This gets a maximum score of 3 points.  If a plain meat pie has a very good taste it can score 3, whereas a pepper pie has to taste of pepper, and a steak and kidney pie has to have both steak and kidney.
2. Was there some decent meat in there or just mince meat?  +1 for chunks of meat, -1 for only mince meat.  On further consideration if it is only a plain pie, steak should not be expected so a score of 0 is awarded for mince in a basic pie.
3. What is the ratio of meat to gravy?  Overall chewy +1, bit runny 0, could be eaten through a straw -1.
4. How about ratio of crust to filling.  Solid crust holds the deal together +1.  Crust a bit weak and collapses under the weight of filling, 0.  Volume of crust greater than filling -1.
5. Texture of crust.  Flaky and crisp 1.  Burnt or under-cooked 0, indistiguishable from cardboard -1
6. Nicely warm indicating freshly made +2.  Very hot indicating pie which has been nuked  +1.  Barely warm-1
7. Is it basically a home made pie or something commercial.  Home made +1.  Origin unclear 0.  Anything involving cellophane -1.

Here is a score sheet using my memory of the best and worst pies encountered on the trip.

Category	Quincan café	Chillago
Taste	3	1
Meatiness	1	-1
Gravy ratio	1	0
Crust ratio	0	1
crust nature	1	-1
Warmth	2	1
Artisanality	1	-1
Total	9	0

This pretty much comes out where I did at the time, although I think I gave Chillago a score of 3, knowing this to be logically unsustainable.

A couple of years down the track I have decided that it should be possible to give a bonus point if acquiring the pie leads  to an unexpected but enjoyable eating site.  This was occasioned by the Poppet Head Rest Area in West Wyalong, which we would never have visited if we didn't need to break the trip to eat the pie!