A gingered peach and pear with Cointreau pie took top honours in the 2012 Bakels New Zealand Supreme Pie Awards announced late last month at the Rendezvous Hotel in Auckland.
It was the second year in a row and the third time in the award’s 16 year history that a Gourmet Fruit Pie has won the Supreme Pie awards. And it was produced by last year’s Supreme winning duo, Shane and Kathy Kearns of Viands Bakery, of Kihikihi, near Te Awamutu.
However, it was a close run contest, with all judges, including TV chef and celebrity judge Al Brown commenting on the “magnificent” standard of this year’s pies.
Judge and Bakels executive chairman, Duncan Loney, said although the final result was close, he was not surprised by the Kearns’ double victory.
“It’s a case of ‘may the best pie win’.”
More pies were entered than ever before, with 4,500 pies entered from 444 bakeries. Judges were unanimous in their praise for the higher than ever standard of pies and for the innovative fillings devised by pie makers. Exotic fillings included Balinese coconut chicken; Asian beef with shitake and star anise; chicken, cranberry and camembert; sweet Moroccan lamb; crab, prawn, scallops and vegetables in white sauce; caramelised pork belly with coriander; and curried mutton with coriander.
Last year the Kearns knocked the classic meat pie off its perch with their winning spiced plum, port and apple pie, so will New Zealand’s traditional meat pie makers be deterred by another win by a dessert pie? Duncan Loney does not think so.
“I think for any good pie maker, this will only spur them into action.
“I don’t think because a dessert pie looks attractive that gives them an unfair advantage. The judges consider a myriad of factors, from pastry to presentation to flavour.”
The Kearns also showed their versatility by winning a Silver award in the seafood category, with their scallop, shrimp and prawn with sweet chilli and coriander pie.
The 18 judges spent a mammoth day judging the pies which were blind coded in 12 categories which included mince and gravy; steak, vegetables and gravy; steak and cheese; chicken and vegetables; gourmet meat; vegetarian; bacon and egg; mince and cheese; gourmet fruit; seafood; and commercial wholesale and a new category, café boutique, introduced to cater for the growing number of cafes serving a variety of tasty pies. However, the café boutique winner was not eligible to win the Supreme Pie Award.
Chief judge Dennis Kirkpatrick is no mean pie maker himself as he produces 20,000 pies a day from his bakery, Jimmy’s Pies in Roxburgh. He was wowed by the standard of this year’s pies.
“We used to send around ten pies through for final tastings. Now we send 20 or more. Pies are always a Kiwi staple, but I think the prestige of the awards has led to a huge increase in the standard of New Zealand pies.”
French born judge Jean-Philippe Jacquet, from Rotorua agrees: “There were some beautiful aromas and so many pies looked good.”
Judge, Karel Adriaens, from Baker Boys in Christchurch, has been judging for 12 years.
“The quality and standard is becoming harder to judge because of the consistency of the entries. What still makes a good pie, is what is inside. A pie is a meal wrapped up in edible packaging.”
Celebrity judge Al Brown, a self confessed pie lover, said he found the judging exercise “absolutely fascinating”.
“I was very honoured to be part of it. Everything I tasted was magnificent. There were some seriously good bakers for me to listen and learn from.”
Bakels chief Duncan Loney says he was blown away by the standard of pies this year.
“There was such a range of innovative fabulous fillings this year. Now you can buy any pie you like. Such innovation is great for the whole industry. It shows great enterprise from our bakers.”
He says the overall market remains buoyant with Kiwis chomping their way through 75 million pies a year in a market worth more than $140 million a year.
Award winners were evenly spread throughout the country with 20 winners (including Highly Commended) from Auckland, 11 from Hawkes Bay, five from Tauranga, three from Christchurch and two from Taupo.
