The 25th Bakels NZ Annual Supreme Pie Awards were held on Tuesday night and if you wanted to know where to find the best pies of any kind, wonder no more!
Extensive judging from a team of culinary experts including celebrity chef Al Brown analyses the physical appearance of the pie, the quality of the pastry, the density of the filling and a number of other factors.
11 categories are awarded a gold, silver and bronze award as well as a highly commended award that didn't quite make the top three but the judges feel deserve recognition.
The Supreme Pie Award is awarded to the crème de la crème, the greatest of the great, and will be hailed as the best pie in the land of the long white cloud.
THE OFFICIAL LIST OF NEW ZEALAND'S BEST PIES:
Bacon & Egg
Gold Award: Avalon Bakehouse Cafe - 21 Crawford Street, Avalon, Hamilton 3200
Silver Award: Le Royal Bakery - 21 Park Road, Grafton, Auckland
Bronze Award: Whakatane Bakehouse Cafe - 122 The Strand, Whakatane
Highly Commended: Fresh Bun Cafe - 42 George Street, Tuakau 2121
Mince and Gravy
Gold Award: Orewa Bakery - 8E Moana Avenue, Orewa 0931
Silver Award: Delight Bakehouse Cafe, 18G Clark Street, New Lynn, Auckland 0600
Bronze Award: Shaneos Bakehouse - 302 Hastings Street North, Hastings 4122
Highly Commended: Richoux Patisserie - 119 Main Highway, Ellerslie, Auckland 1051
Mince and Cheese
Gold Award: Mairangi Bay Bakery - 366D Beach Road, Mairangi Bay, Auckland 0630
Silver Award: Rosedale Bakery & Cafe - Flat 9, 215 Rosedale Road, Albany, Auckland 0632
Bronze Award: Wild Grain Bakery - Shop 2, 16 Wainui Road, Silverdale 0932
Highly Commended: Freemans Bakery & Cafe
Potato Top
Gold Award: Wild Grain Bakery - Shop 2, 16 Wainui Road, Silverdale 0932
Silver Award: Corner Bakery - 180A Hillsborough, Auckland 1042
Bronze Award: Richoux Patisserie - 119 Main Highway, Ellerslie, Auckland 1051
Highly Commended: Euro Patisserie Torbay - 1028 Beach Road, Torbay, Auckland
Steak and Gravy
Gold Award: Fresh Bun Cafe - 42 George Street, Tuakau 2121
Silver Award: Patrick's Pies - 19 Bethlehem Road, Bethlehem, Town Centre Tauranga 3110
Bronze Award: Orewa Bakery - 8E Moana Avenue, Orewa 0931
Highly Commended: Avalon Bakehouse Café - 21 Crawford Street, Avalon, Hamilton 3200
Steak and Cheese
Gold Award: Paetiki Bakery - 199 Riffle Range Rd, Taupo 3330
Silver Award: Julia Bakery - 128B Main Highway, Ellerslie, Auckland 1051
Bronze Award: Richoux Patisserie - 119 Main Highway, Ellerslie, Auckland 1051
Highly Commended: Eurobake Espresso Ltd - 45 Main Rd, Kumeu 0810
Chicken and vegetables
Gold Award: Patrick's Pies - 19 Bethlehem Road, Bethlehem, Town Centre Tauranga 3110
Silver Award: Mairangi Bay Bakery - 366D Beach Road, Mairangi Bay, Auckland 0630
Bronze Award: Forresthill Bakery - Suite 5, 16 Raines Avenue, Forrest Hill, Auckland 0620
Highly Commended: Kai Pai Bakery - 17 Frederick Street, Wanaka 9305
Gourmet Meat
Gold Award: Patrick's Pies - 19 Bethlehem Road, Bethlehem, Town Centre Tauranga 3110 (Roast Duck, Onion & Mushrooms)
Silver Award: Rangiora Bakery - 18 High Street, Rangiora 7400 (Brisket)
Bronze Award: Nada Bakery - Suite 4, 72 Main Road, Tawa, Wellington 5028 (The Reuben)
Highly Commended: Chelsea Bakery & Roasts - 113 Randwick Rd, Moera, Lower Hutt 5010 (Slow Cooked Lamb)
Vegetarian
Gold Award: Patrick's Pies - 19 Bethlehem Road, Bethlehem, Town Centre Tauranga 3110 (Stir Fry Vegetables)
Silver Award: Wild Grain Bakery - Shop 2, 16 Wainui Road, Silverdale 0932 (Broccoli, Potatoes, Green Beans & Curry Sauce)
Bronze Award: Mairangi Bay Bakery - 366D Beach Road, Mairangi Bay, Auckland 0630 (Creamed White Sauce w spinach, Sweetcorn & Pumpkin)
Highly Commended: My Bakery Kelston - Suite 6, 4055 Great North Road, Glen Eden, Auckland 0602 (Creamy Spinach & Mushroom)
Cafe Boutique
Gold Award: Chill Café - 109 Waireka Place, Whangamata 3620 (Chicken, Cranberry Sauce & Camembert Cheese)
Silver Award: The Corner Kitchen - 1a Pohutu Street, Whakatane 3120 (Lamb, Kumara, Onion, Celery & Carrot)
Bronze Award: Tati Frutti Juice Bar Whitianga - 16 Hodge Rd, 3591 Coroglen (Steak & Olives)
Highly Commended: Red Kitchen HQ - 30 Jack Russell Drive, Te Awamutu 3800 (Chicken & Leek)
Commercial/Wholesale
Gold Award: Dad's Pies - 57 Forge Rd, Silverdale 0932
Silver Award: Couplands Bakeries - 140 Carmen Rd, Hei Hei, Christchurch 8042
Bronze Award: Oxford Pies - 142 Maui Street, Pukete, Hamilton 3200
Highly Commended: Kai Pai Bakery - 17 Frederick Street, Wanaka 9305
Supreme Pie Award:
Patrick's Pies - 19 Bethlehem Road, Bethlehem, Town Centre Tauranga 3110 (Gourmet roast duck, onion & mushroom)
And there you have it - a definitive list of all of the best pies found in New Zealand.
So next time you're craving that feeling of sinking your teeth into a fresh, fluffy pastry followed by the warm delight of whatever steaming hot filling you choose, it might pay to have this list handy and check out some of the best Aotearoa has to offer.
