The Best Beef Pie in Jakarta

Its sad that about the only dish that has attained global recognition from England is the ubiquitous greasy fish and chips, preferably wrapped in yesterday's newspaper. But having lived in England on three separate occasions - the first as a young child - I must confess that like that Anton Ego from Ratatouille, I get flashes of childhood memories when I have English food of a particular sort. Corned beef sandwiches, mashed potatoes with thick gravy, green peas and onions, and baked beans on toast brings me back to a simpler time. Add to that a weakness for lemon meringue pie and apple crumble, deserts I best remembered when I was a six year old in Lorraine County First School where we had to say grace before meals.

But in my undergraduate years, I developed a weakness for English pies and pasties. The perfect pie or pastie is one where the pastry is soft and not flaky, where the contents are still runny as it allows the gravy to warm the palate and where the meat is so tender it almost melts in the mouth. When I see pie on the menu, it is always ordered to check whether it has the "Ratatouille effect" on me.

On New Year's Day for lunch, I confirmed that a place in Jakarta serves just about the perfect Beef and Mushroom Pie. It comes with a perfectly boiled egg on the top of the pie, where the yolk is runny - something that requires attention to detail. The dish includes mashed potatoes with gravy. If you are not watching your waistline, order some side potatoes and baked beans.

Social House in Grand Indonesia clinches the title of the best Beef and Mushroom pie in the country. TRY IT!