So after a day scuba diving on the Great Barrier reef and looking forward to a some locally brewed ale at Hemingways what better way to satisfy those hunger pangs than visit local pie maker Mocka’s in Port Douglas. This local institution has been serving classic Aussie Pies since 1969 which are all made on the premises.
Besides Mocka’s Originals, the usual fillings of Steak and Mushroom, Steak and Onion, Steak and Kidney (plus others) they do a Gourmet range. Now this is what I’d flown half way round the world for and with tempting fillings like Tuna Mornay, Crocodile Laksa, Spanakopita (spinach and feta cheese) and Bush Kangaroo on offer it was hard to make a choice.
I left the bakers with a Bush Kanagoo (pie!) and a mini Crocodile “taster”. Both had the same sturdy puff pastry. Now even though I’ve sampled delicacies from around the world I did wonder what Crocodile would taste like. Well the first surprise I got was it wasn’t dark meat, the second surprise was that It was a very pale filling and if anything it seemed to have a gentle, almost Salmon like taste. I was informed after that the taste is sometimes described as somewhere between fish or chicken – but that description appears to make it sound weird! I think I’m going to head back at some point to Mocka’s for a full Crocodile Laska so I can be sure about this, but I can say I did enjoy the taster.
Onto the main course. Bush Kangaroo. Apparently a very lean meat (and this pie was filled with chunks of it). It had a pastry outline of a Kangaroo on the top of the pie just to remind you what you were eating. People describe it as similar to steak and if you didn’t know what you were eating this is what you’d guess. Although to me there is a subtle difference, but definitely not an unpleasant one. The red wine it is cooked in gives the meat a certain fully bodied succulence.
I will surely be back at Mocka’s for more of these pies which are excellently made when I return from the rainforest, and I would recommend anyone who heads to North Queensland to take a detour to Port Douglas for these delights. In my opinion the best food we tasted while we were there.
The Kangaroo Pie scores a high 8.2
Location : Mocka’s , 9 Grant Street, Port Douglas , QLD 4877, Australia
Website: mockaspies.com.au
MH.
Croc Taster Pie in the foreground
Oh yes, I do Roo.
Port Douglas Takeaway 🙂
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