Lily's Artisan, Crows Nest – A Pleasant Surprise!
You know when you head somewhere expecting to find the same old place, only to discover things have changed for the better? Well, that’s exactly what happened when we stopped at Lily’s Artisan in Crows Nest!
We’d pulled in expecting to find the old Crows Nest Bakery, but it turns out this little spot has had a makeover. And what a pleasant surprise it was!
The building is now home to Lily’s Artisan, owned by co-owners Bruce and Heidi Ryman, who have transformed the former bakery into a permanent home for a delicious range of homemade pies and preserves.
We were greeted by Bruce, who not only made our coffees but also took the time to have a chat and share the story behind Lily’s Artisan. He’s a genuinely engaging host, and it’s always nice to meet someone who enjoys talking about what they do rather than simply taking your order and sending you on your way.
Of course, we weren’t there just for a chat and a caffeine fix. This is The Thirsty Tourists, after all, and food stops are an important part of our touring adventures!
We sampled the Chunky Beef pie and the Cauliflower pie, and both were fantastic. A good pie can make a road trip stop memorable, and these certainly did the job.
With homemade preserves also on offer, there’s plenty to tempt you into taking a few goodies home. Just be warned: you might arrive looking for a quick coffee and leave with a bag of treats as well!
If you’re heading out towards Crows Nest, make sure you drop in and see what Bruce and Heidi have on offer. It’s a lovely example of a familiar local spot being given a new lease on life.
We’ll definitely be making another trip down that way. There’s more to explore, more preserves to investigate, and quite possibly another pie or two to sample.
After all, you can’t be expected to make a final judgement on the pies after just one visit, can you?
The Thirsty Tourists verdict: A welcoming stop, great pies and a good reason to take the scenic route through Crows Nest!
#TheThirstyTourists #TouringIsThirstyWork
We liked our pies so much we started scoffing them before our “obligatory food photo” oops…
