20/09/2022
*Sunday Surfing*
Meat Pies And All In Between
When life was in monochrome, things were what they were. Meat pies were nothing but amply seasoned minced meat with diced potatoes wrapped in properly rolled mix of flour, eggs, butter and water - baked to perfection. The mixes were always consistent, with each pie renewing its tasty promise each and every time it was relishly devoured.
Who ever came up with the traditional shape must have been a good student of architecture. With the meaty filling puffly sheltered and hemmed in between two layers of not too crunchy crust. The brushed outer light brown coat, glossy and fork-pinched speaks in inaudible language that which only the guts understand.
There are two certified ways of munching this King of Nigerian snacks. Though Meat Pies do not come with Operating Manuals, the styles of eating them have evolved over time.
When the pie was truly meaty, a delicate bite on the meaty hump with a gradual descent either to the left or the right was the preferred option. A gentle nibble at the carcass is oft a sad reminder that the tin don finish.
The Karate-like option crept into the Meat Pie space perhaps as one of the fall-outs from Charles Dawin's theory of natural selection. The karate chop is a subjective method, with an illusion of fairness, of breaking a meat pie into two equal halves. Often employed by a senior/elder when a never-to-complain junior/ aburo is the other (clueless) party.
Those were days when the Baker had a covenant with humans and God to bake nothing but good and original sumptuous Meat Pies.
Unmeaty pies have taken over, the asulym is no longer sane. All sorts; green peas, carrots, rice, gravy, ponmo, have in broad daylight, under our korokoro eyes been smuggled into these hitherto on-the-go quick bites. How some Bakers have ingeniously mastered the art of inflating these pastries with air would shame an apprentice Vulcaniser!
Gradually, the half siblings of our dear Meat Pies, Samosa, Spring Rolls and Chicken Pies, have been bitten by the bug. Until you bite into them, your surprise _go still dey do press ups_ as what to expect is ensconced in mystery.
At this rate, the United Nations may be called to step in. The curators of the meat pies of yore deserve eternal rest. Surely their spirits would be appalled as impostors have stealthy taken over our meat pie corner.
Kingsway Stores and later at the early days of Mr. Biggs was the go-to plug for Meat Pies. In fact, meat pie was the flagship product of this national enterprise.
Skads Meat Pies (Sabo, Yaba and Fadeyi), a local fringe player made hot 🔥 oven-to-shop meat pies. Students from Regan Memorial Secondary School, Our Lady's of Apostles, Methodist Girls High School, City College back then are better positioned to testify as to how the Skads brand had a good market share of their wallets.
Nigeria has happened to our meat pies.
