The Best Pie in New Zealand?

[admin]

Every year Bakels (the wholesale baking supplier) runs a competition to judge the best pies from all the land, the results were announced this past Tuesday see here. While talking to some of the other students at school we decided that to fully master our Pastry module we better hot foot it over to Tauranga to try out the supreme winning pie.

The winning pie was a Creamy Bacon, Mushroom & Cheese creation made by Patrick Lam at the Goldstar Bakery in Bethlehem just out of Tauranga. The competition has obviously been kind to the business as it had multiple people in there at the same time wanting to buy the prize winning pie which was sold out (except for the 3 we called ahead to reserve). The bakery was spotlessly clean and as welcoming as any bakery will ever be, plates and cutlery are even provided should you wish to eat without using your hands as the silverware.


When you go into any experience with the foreknowledge that it has been classified as the best of its kind in the nation it is impossible not to expect something downright spectacular and perhaps get carried away with the notion that it might change your life. Fortunately I was just expecting a good pie as that is what I got. The rich creamy filling with bacon and mushroom would be perfect for a cold winters day and perhaps even good as a lazy afternoon pitstop snack in summer.

If you are ever in the area definitely give it a try, their other pies are also probably of interest if mushrooms or bacon aren’t tempting your palate.





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[DoubleMANTIS]

Greenland Bakery in Botany seemed to have picked up a few medals.... Me thinks I might hunt them down this weekend for one of these.. Lean Rump Steak, Mushroom, Cheese with red wine Sauce

[Jim]

Hey Brian, this is the pie I always talk about.

STEAK & CHEESE
Gold Award

The Bakehouse Café
114 Church Street,
Opotiki


So good. Its like my childhood en-wrapped in pastry.

And Hamilton is really underrepresented.

[Brianemone]

Originally Posted by Jim

Hey Brian, this is the pie I always talk about.

STEAK & CHEESE
Gold Award

The Bakehouse Café
114 Church Street,
Opotiki


So good. Its like my childhood en-wrapped in pastry.

And Hamilton is really underrepresented.

Hamilton does seem to be full of fail.

Will have to go to opotiki now. Bugger

[NOL LUV DI]

My favourite pies of all time were from a restaurant in Wanganui.

For the lunch crowd they made up pies from the left over roast meat and roast vegies from the night before.

The pies were twice as high as normal pies and just beautiful.

[Mc Fadge]

My favourite meat pies are the cheap ones. No idea why, but they seem to taste the best. The more expensive ones tend to have higher quality meat, but it just gets ruined due to being in a pie really. The best way I can describe it are the miniature party pies. Damn, that meat with a softer pastry and I'll be all over it

[DoubleMANTIS]

Originally Posted by Mc Fadge

My favourite meat pies are the cheap ones. No idea why, but they seem to taste the best. The more expensive ones tend to have higher quality meat, but it just gets ruined due to being in a pie really. The best way I can describe it are the miniature party pies. Damn, that meat with a softer pastry and I'll be all over it

Bloody Australian's

Wouldnt know a real pie if it bit you :P

[nightwlf]

Hmm a cafe round the corner from work won a bakels prize a year or two ago for .. god I can't remember now.. I think it was an apple and plum cointreau custard pie. or something. I never tried one though, sounded like it'd kill me (diabetic).

I have to say the butter chicken pies from Wild Bean Cafe (tied to BP) are usually really nice... for a mass produced kinda pie.

[Mriceguy]

Originally Posted by nightwlf

Hmm a cafe round the corner from work won a bakels prize a year or two ago for .. god I can't remember now.. I think it was an apple and plum cointreau custard pie. or something. I never tried one though, sounded like it'd kill me (diabetic).

I have to say the butter chicken pies from Wild Bean Cafe (tied to BP) are usually really nice... for a mass produced kinda pie.

Butter chicken pies you say! Without the rice? How spicy is it? Gonna have to try one of those babies.

[nightwlf]

Originally Posted by Mriceguy

Butter chicken pies you say! Without the rice? How spicy is it? Gonna have to try one of those babies.

They're not too spicy, they're really.. flavoursome though. The gourmet selection from Wild Bean is pretty decent all round actually, farmhouse beef and bacon pie, Thai Chili pie, Seafood mmmmn.

Best vegan pie in NZ might be a vegan pie.. but that'd be like me saying the best cake in new zealand is that horrible gluten-free orange cake just because I shouldn't have real cake

[Aaron Koolen-Bourke]

Best pies in NZ are Pyes Pies vegan pies. I mean with names like Lentil and Lentil Potato Top you'd think that the instant you took a bite you'd start smelling bad, wearing sandals and living in a hut but no, they are frigging amazing pies. Now as someone who hasn't had a meat pie for about 20 years, my memory is fading, but it's about as close as it comes in vegan form.

No tofu in sight either. If you're in Auckland try one. Usually uni cafes and things stock em but you can buy them direct from their manufacturing facility on the Shore.

[Brianemone]

Originally Posted by Aaron Koolen

Best pies in NZ are Pyes Pies vegan pies. I mean with names like Lentil and Lentil Potato Top you'd think that the instant you took a bite you'd start smelling bad, wearing sandals and living in a hut but no, they are frigging amazing pies. Now as someone who hasn't had a meat pie for about 20 years, my memory is fading, but it's about as close as it comes in vegan form.

No tofu in sight either. If you're in Auckland try one. Usually uni cafes and things stock em but you can buy them direct from their manufacturing facility on the Shore.

Wouldn'T mind Trying one

[Vivasanti]

Hair pie.....

sorry

dont know if they are NZ but i like those anty may pies from Pak in Sav, there bit small though.

[Newsboy]

If there's no meat in my pie, there's no pie in me.

[Goku]

One of the best steak and cheese pies I find comes from hillyers of lincoln, damn good pies they do yum!

Also I would have to agree with nightwlf on the butter chicken pies from wild bean, they are great if you're looking for something more than an average meat pie.