Time to get baking - entries close tomorrow for those jostling for the coveted title of the country’s top pie maker.
Last year passionate Kiwi pie lovers at the 2011 Bakels New Zealand Supreme Pie Awards were shocked when a spiced plum, port and apple pie knocked the classic meat pie off its perch.
The 2012 winner will be announced on Tuesday, July 24 and already competitors of the hotly contested awards are busy sharpening up their knives and skills.
Last year’s winners, Shane and Kathy Kearns of Viands Bakery, of Kikikihi, near Te Awamatu, are tight-lipped about whether they’re going to go sweet or savoury this year.
Their winning pie last year was the result of a middle of the night inspiration for Mrs Kearns, when she woke up and thought “right, port wine and plum.”
Her husband agreed but added the apple.
The Kearns said say winning the Supreme Pie Award did wonders for their confidence and also for their business.
They went from a production run of 300 pies a day to up to 500 a day after their win.
The Pie Awards, now into their 16th year, are judged in 12 categories, with a new category introduced this year: the cafe boutique category, to acknowledge the growing number of cafes serving a variety of tasty pies.
Pie facts:
The New Zealand pie market is worth in excess of $140 million a year
Kiwis chomp through a staggering 75 million pies a year
Last year 388 bakeries entered more than 4000 pies
Home