Pasties With Aussie Flair: Which Us City Serves Them?

what city in the united states makes australian pasties

The pasty is a popular dish in Australia and the United States, with many variations in both countries. The pasty is believed to have originated in Cornwall, England, and was brought to the United States by Cornish miners in the 19th century. In the US, pasties are most closely associated with Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where many of the early Cornish immigrants settled. In Australia, pasties are also a traditional dish, with many Australian companies selling pasties, such as The Proper Pasty Co. and MrsFoodieMumma.

Characteristics Values
Cities in the United States that make Australian pasties Grass Valley, Nevada City, California; Wisconsin; Michigan's Upper Peninsula; Arizona; Virginia; New York City
Australian pasties Contain vegetables, meat, and flaky pastry

Other cities in the United States that make pasties

  • Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, and Hazleton in Pennsylvania
  • Madison and Milwaukee in Wisconsin
  • Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Pasties in Grass Valley and Nevada City, California

Pasties are a remnant of the mining history of Grass Valley and Nevada City, California. The Cornish pasty, a handheld pie usually filled with meat and potatoes, sealed under a crimped pastry crust, arrived in California with Cornish miners who emigrated to the gold fields in the 1850s to work in the rich mines near Grass Valley, like the Empire Mine.

The pasty was a convenient meal for miners, who would carry it in a two-tiered lunch pail, with tea or coffee in the bottom tier steaming the pasty in the top compartment. The crust served as a handle, which miners would discard to avoid consuming any arsenic or other metals on their hands.

In Grass Valley, there are two shops specializing in pasties: Marshall’s Pasties, which has been making them since 1968, and Grass Valley Pasty Co., which opened in 2019. The town also hosts an annual festival for St. Piran, the patron saint of Cornwall, and celebrates Christmas with Cornish carols and folk tunes.

The pasty spread worldwide in the 1800s with the Cornish, who were in high demand for their mining expertise. It can now be found in many variations, including meat, vegetarian, and sweet options. In the United States, pasties are most closely associated with southwestern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where many early Cornish immigrants settled.

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Pasties in Wisconsin

The pasty is a popular dish worldwide, but it is strongly associated with Cornwall in England. The earliest pasty recipes can be found in cookbooks dating back to the 14th century, and the food was even eaten by royalty. However, the pasty's spread across the globe is largely attributed to the migration of Cornish miners and sailors.

In the early 1800s, a major economic downturn hit the southwest of England, and Cornwall's fishing industry went into decline. This led many Cornish miners to migrate to the United States, particularly to the Upper Mississippi Lead Region of Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. As many as 10,000 Cornish miners are estimated to have made this journey in the 1830s.

Wisconsin, specifically the town of Mineral Point, became a hub for these Cornish miners. Mineral Point was soon dotted with limestone cottages built by the Cornish miners, resembling the homes they left behind. The miners brought with them their traditions and cuisine, including the pasty. The pasty was a convenient and filling meal for the miners, who often ate with dirty hands. The thick crust of the pasty allowed them to hold the food without having to wash their hands first. Additionally, the crust played a role in the miners' superstitions. They believed that the mines were inhabited by the spirits of deceased miners, called "Knockers" or "Tommyknockers," and they would leave the crusts of their pasties in the mines as an offering to these spirits.

Today, pasties can still be found in Wisconsin, particularly in the state's largest cities, Madison and Milwaukee, as well as in the far northern region along the border with Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Reynold's Pasty Shop in Milwaukee is a popular spot for pasties, and they have been serving the community since 1956. While some claim that their pasties are not "Cornish" due to the absence of rutabaga, they are still a beloved part of Wisconsin's culinary landscape.

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Pasties in Michigan

Pasties are a popular dish in Michigan, particularly in the Upper Peninsula region. The pasty is believed to have originated from Cornwall, England, and was brought over to the United States by Cornish miners and sailors in the early 1800s. During this time, a major economic downturn in England severely impacted Cornwall's fishing and mining industries, leading many Cornish miners to seek work in the burgeoning mining boom in the Upper Mississippi Lead Region, which included Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

The pasty became a convenient meal for copper miners and lumberjacks in the region. Traditionally, the wives of miners would fill the dough with leftover beef, potato, onion, and rutabaga (also known as swede or turnip), fold the pastry, seal the edges, and bake it. Legend has it that the miners would reheat these pasties in the mines using their lantern candles.

Today, pasties are a cultural symbol of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, with pasty shops attracting many tourists. The village of Calumet even hosts an annual Pasty Festival. While traditional pasties remain popular, modern variations with different fillings can also be found, such as chicken pot pie, spicy jalapeno, bacon, cheeseburger, gluten-free, and vegetarian options.

One notable pasty shop in Michigan is Ron's Pasties (Great Lakes Custom Meats), which has received acclaim for its U.P.-style pasties, even from those originally from the Upper Peninsula. Ron's pasties are made in large quantities and sold frozen, but they are praised for their golden-brown lard crust, flavour, and flaky texture. Other popular pasty shops in Michigan include Dobber's, Lawry's, Lehto's, and Barb's Pasties in Clawson.

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Pasties in Pennsylvania

The pasty is a British baked turnover pastry, with a variety of fillings, that is particularly associated with Cornwall. However, it has spread all over the world due to the Cornish diaspora. The pasty is now found all over the United States, but it is most closely associated with southwestern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where many early Cornish immigrants first settled.

In the 19th century, there was an influx of miners to the anthracite coal region of Northeastern Pennsylvania, including Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, and Hazleton, and they brought the pasty with them. In 1981, a Pennsylvania entrepreneur started marketing pasties under the brand name Mr. Pastie.

The pasty was originally made for miners in Cornwall, England, to take down into the pits during “crib” time (meal time) because they were an easy, portable, and sustaining food. The dense, folded pastry could stay warm for several hours, and if it did get cold, it could easily be warmed on a shovel over a candle. The side-crimped pasty could be held by the thick edge of pastry, which was later discarded, thereby ensuring that dirty fingers did not touch the food or the miner's mouth.

Today, pasties in Pennsylvania are made with a thick dough that’s stuffed with ground beef and pork, potatoes, rutabagas, onions, and a blend of common spices.

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Pasties in Minnesota

The pasty is a popular dish in Cornwall, England, that has spread worldwide, including to Australia and the United States. The pasty is believed to have originated as a portable meal for Cornish miners and sailors, who brought it to the United States in the 1800s during a mining boom.

In the United States, pasties are most closely associated with the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and southwestern Wisconsin, where many Cornish immigrants settled. However, they can also be found in other parts of the country, including Minnesota.

Minnesota, particularly the Iron Range in the northeastern part of the state, has a strong connection to the pasty due to its mining history. The pasty has become a cultural symbol in this region, and it is a popular dish among the locals.

One notable pasty purveyor in Minnesota is Potter's Pasties & Pies, located in Minneapolis. Potter's Pasties offers a variety of flavours, including traditional minced beef and veggies, Thai Veg, and pulled pork and apple. Their pasties have received positive reviews for their taste and crisp crust. Potter's operates both a storefront and food trucks that travel around the city.

Another pasty option in Minnesota is Lands End Pasty Co., located in the historic Dinkytown neighbourhood of Minneapolis, near the University of Minnesota. Lands End Pasty Co. offers delicious handmade pasties and has become a popular destination for those seeking a tasty treat.

In addition to these specialised pasty shops, pasties can also be found in various restaurants and bakeries throughout Minnesota. The state's mining heritage and cultural diversity have influenced the adoption and variation of the pasty, making it a beloved dish for people of all backgrounds.

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