As Michiganders, we’re fortunate to have what some folks have designated as our delicious “State Meal,” the pasty. We’re pleased that Awesome Mitten readers have enjoyed the Pretty Awesome Pasty series thus far. We have plans to continue traveling the state in search of Michigan’s best pasties, but in the meantime we thought we would review our pasty-testing progress! Catch the overall introduction to the series here.
As noted in the introduction, the pasty is Michigan’s iconic and delectable “pot pie without the pot“, considered “an identifying cultural mark that gives Michigan, especially the Upper Peninsula, its own identity.” Since the series was launched in late 2012, we’ve embarked upon a gastronomic tour of both peninsulas, applying our proprietary Key Pasty Indicator (KPI) scorings to each offering.
The KPI ranking takes into consideration the following metrics:
- Crust to filling ratio
- Filling consistency/flavor
- Value
- Flake-o-meter
- Overall savory index
Scores So Far
As a recap, a review the scorings so far shows Hiawatha’s pasties (hailing from the U.P. community of Naubinway) in the lead. Here are the KPI scores for all reviewed pasties.
- 1st place: Hiawatha Pasties (Naubinway, Michigan) scored a whopping 9.6
- 2nd place: Weldon’s Pasties (Livonia, Michigan) scored a respectable 9.0
- 3rd Place: Uncle Peters Pasties (Clarkston, Michigan) scored an overall 8.6 KPI.
- 4th Place: Our Place Pasties (Lincoln, Michigan) ranked a solid 8.0 KPI
- 5th Place: Pasty Central (Kearsarge, Michigan) scored an overall KPI of 7.5
Where To Next?
We’re hoping Awesome Mitten readers suggest tips for our team to find the best pasty to score – perhaps it will topple the Hiawatha first place ranking of 9.6!
Know of a terrific pasty that might emerge as the highest ranking? Include your suggestions in the comments.
If you need some ideas, check out this previous Awesome Mitten post entitled “Michigan Cuisine: Enter the Pasty.”
We’re looking forward to your suggestions!
–Beth Baerman & Julie Rogier, Contributing Writers
