From COVID to TV: Docklands pie connoisseur reaches new heights
Amid the pandemic, American expat Tarius McArthur was missing home and searching for a way to reconnect with her culture.
She soon realised she wasn’t alone. Her Facebook feed was full of fellow homesick Australia-based Americans trying to find ways to overcome their pandemic blues.
From buying Pop-Tarts to marshmallow fluff, people were turning to comfort food. However, Ms McArthur thought that nothing would be more comforting than a cherry pie.
Operating out of a commercial kitchen in a church, the Melbourne-based pie lover began baking traditional American dessert pies, selling them online and at markets.
Four years on, her business, Cherry Pie – American Dessert Pies, has been a success. She is opening her first store at The District Docklands this August, and she has recently been featured on Network 10’s two-part TV series Start Me Up.
With no formal business background, Ms McArthur looked to her family for inspiration. She comes from four generations of chefs, and the recipes she used when starting the business belonged to her grandmother.
Ms McArthur migrated to Australia to be with her partner. While she is proud to call Melbourne home, her business has allowed her to keep family traditions alive while creating new opportunities for her community.
One of the challenges she has faced, however, is Australians’ zealous love and appreciation for meat pies.
“Traditionally, I think some of the cultures here don’t have super sweet desserts,” she said. “I do have a lot of converts though, and many of the early adopters were people with connections to the United States.”
In Australia, you might be able to get an apple pie from somewhere, but American pie is different – it’s an iconic food of the States. We know how to do it, and we do it well.
When Ms McArthur started baking pies during the pandemic, becoming a TV star was the last thing on her mind. However, the quality of her pies speaks for itself, and she has quickly cemented herself as one of Melbourne’s premier bakers.
With the first episode airing on Network 10 on Saturday, June 28, Ms McArthur is proud to have her story shared with audiences across the country.
She is also preparing to open her store at The District Docklands, which is set to launch later this year.
A launch event will be held on August 30, featuring a sit-down dinner prepared by a guest chef, who will whip up an Americana-inspired feast.
From a church kitchen to The District, Ms McArthur’s journey to Docklands has been guided by her love for her culture and to give a new community a slice of her family’s delicious dessert pie. •

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