As Kiwis, pies are an integral part of our identity, so it’s only right that each year, we find out where the best pies in the country are.
Last night, the 2025 New Zealand Bakels Supreme Pie Awards took place, and there was a winner for every taste bud - from a classic ‘Mince and Cheese’, to the more niche ‘Café Boutique.’
There was one Supreme overall winner, who took home the honour of creating the BEST pie in the country. One of the finest achievements NZ can offer.
Next time you have an intense pie craving (because you will, let’s be real), make sure you hit up one of these spots.
Check out all of the winners below.
Supreme Award Winner
Potato Top Pie - Rosedale Bakery & Cafe
Mr Samraksmey (Sam) So, who owns two bakeries in Auckland, has taken the cake (or, pie?) with his ‘French-inspired Potato Top’.
According to a press release, Sam’s delicious creation is “a swirled potato top with a centre core of fondant-style cooked potatoes finished in au gratin layers”. He developed this recipe after seeing French-style layered potatoes in a magazine.
One word: YUM.
My mouth is watering just hearing how he cooks the potatoes: “We take the time to fry the potatoes and then we put them on a tray with butter, garlic and rosemary and we bake them off. We cut them with a round cutter after baking and put them in the pie and bake again, and they look like a crispy outside.”
NZ Bakels managing director Brent Kersel not only praised the unique potato flavour, but noted “the mince around it had very good flavour”.
After winning silver in 2023 with his Mince and Cheese entry and winning the Bakels Legendary Sausage Roll competition the same year, this award was inevitable for Sam.
Massive congrats to Sam and the Rosedale Bakery & Cafe. I know where I’m getting my dinner!
Here are the ‘Gold Award’ winners for each category:
Bacon & Egg
Levain Artisan Bakery in Blockhouse Bay, Auckland - Mr Sean Vo
Mince & Gravy
Euro Patisserie Torbay in Torbay, Auckland - Mrs Sopheap Long
Mince & Cheese
Nada Bakery in Tawa, Wellington - Mr Michael Gray
Potato Top
Rosedale Bakery & Cafe in Rosedale, Auckland - Mr Samraksmey So
Steak & Gravy
Taste Bakery and Roast in Henderson, Auckland - Mr Sok Heang Nguon
Steak & Cheese
Milldale Bakery in Wainui - Mr Sok Keo
Chicken & Veges
Richoux Patisserie LTD in Ellerslie, Auckland - Mr Mengheng (JASON) Hay
Gourmeat Meat
Wild Grain Bakery in Silverdale, Auckland - Mr Buntha Meng
Vegeterian
Euro Patisserie Torbay in Torbay, Auckland - Mrs Sopheap Long (Roasted Veg with Mushroom Sauce)
Café Boutique
Main Street Cafe in Huntly - Ms Ellie Linton-Brown, (Rhubarb + Raspberry)
Looks like the ‘09 cleaned up this year, so it’s safe to assume the rest of NZ are getting their hands dirty perfecting recipes to make a comeback next year.
Congrats to all the winners, medalists, and participants.
