History’s been made at the 2024 Bakels NZ Supreme Pie Awards with the South Island snagging its first-ever top prize.
North Canterbury's Rangiora Bakery took out this year's Supreme Pie Award. Baker Arlyn Thompson made the winning pastry with her Gourmet Meat entry - Slow Cooked Sumatra Style Beef.
The bakery shared their winning pie on Instagram, and it sounds bloody delicious. “The gorgeous Slow cooked Sumantra Style Beef Pies with chunks of slow-braised beef & delicious mouthwatering Southeast Asian flavours of tamarind, kaffir lime leaf, lemongrass and mild spices”.
Brent Kersel, the big boss at NZ Bakels, said: “This year we saw a lot more bakers giving the Gourmet Meat category a go with entry numbers making this the third largest category to be judged.”
“Year on year, this competition is getting harder to win and with it our reputation as a pie nation.”
The judges were blown away in the Supreme round. Brent added: "We had smoked trevally with peas, carrots, beans and corn; Mexican venison; beef brisket with beer, cheese and jalapeno; spicy prawn; beef moussaka and even an old-fashioned mutton pie."
Apparently, the competition was tight, but when Arlyn's Gourmet Meat pie hit the judges' taste buds, they knew it was a winner.
“So beautiful to eat. The flavours are so well balanced and the pastry and tender meat are a perfect comfort combination. On a cold winter’s night, that’s the pie you want to eat,” said celebrity chef judge Sid Sahrawat.
Youth judge Zoya Sahrawat just raised her eyebrows and smiled, savouring every bite.
The judges didn't know it then, but their scores made history and a whole bunch of South Islanders - including myself - are stoked to be able to get our hands on the top pie winner in the country.
Arlyn's not just bringing home the top spot for the South Island. She’s also only the second female baker to take out the Supreme Pie Award since the awards kicked off in 1996.
We’re hanging out for one of those gourmet pies now. Well deserved!
