By Serena Solomon
For the first time, a baker from the South Island clinched the award for New Zealand's best pie.
Arlyn Thompson from Rangiora Bakery in North Canterbury beat more than 500 bakers and over 5000 pie entries with her slow cooked Sumatra style beef pie to win the Bakels NZ Supreme Pie Award for 2024.
Thompson's victory marks the second time a female baker won the top award in the annual competition, which is in its 26th year.
The first female winner was Sopheap Long of Euro Patisserie in Torbay who won in 2021 for her steak and cheese.
"The flavours are so well balanced and the pastry and tender meat are a perfect comfort combination," said pie judge and chef Sid Sahrawat. "On a cold winter's night, that's the pie you want to eat."
Jason Danielson, of Kaipai Bakery in Wānaka, was awarded a gold in the Commercial/Wholesale division.
The Rangiora Bakery, which has a history that dates to 1860, received a silver award in last year's Supreme Pie Awards with its Thai Beef Brisket Gourmet Pie.
The competition has 11 pie categories, including bacon and egg, and vegetable. The top pies in each category are eligible to take out the Supreme Pie Award.
Thompson's winning pie was entered in the gourmet meat category which encourages bakers to get creative. The category is attracting more entrants and was the competition's third largest behind the classics steak and cheese, and mince and cheese.
"Right from the very first round of the gourmet meat judging, there were some really stand-out pies coming through with exceptional pastry making it a challenge to score on and then an abundance of flavour innovation," NZ Bakels managing director Brent Kersel said.
Other unusual contenders in the gourmet meat category included smoked trevally with peas, carrots, beans and corn, a Mexican venison and a spicy prawn pie.
Thompson, who also took out gold in the mince and gravy category, inched out renowed Tauranga baker, Patrick Lam, who has won the Supreme Pie Award eight times. This year, Lam took home several top 10 finishes including gold awards in the potato top and the steak and gravy categories.
When it comes to staples like mince and cheese, standout pies must have pastry with "beautiful layering and a rich, moist and well-balanced filling," Kersel said.
"For me, you can't beat a mince and cheese pie.
"Year on year, this competition is getting harder to win and with it our reputation as a pie nation with the best places in the world for pies, the credit goes back to our hard-working, dedicated bakers," he said.
Previous Supreme Pie Award winners have seen sales soar often with a line of customers out the door.
"It's definitely life-changing for the winner," said Ian Moore, the judge in the steak and cheese category, told RNZ last week. "They won't be able to fill their pie warmer enough."
Full list of winners
Bacon and Egg Pie
Gold Award: Cheth Bun, Eurobake Espresso Ltd, Kumeū
Silver Award: Theara Keo, Taste Bakery and Roast, Henderson, Auckland
Bronze Award: Seila Ly, Hillcrest Bakery & Cafe, Hillcrest, Hamilton
Mince and Gravy
Gold Award: Arlyn Thompson, Rangiora Bakery, Rangiora
Silver Award: Soem Top, Dinsdale Bakery, Dinsdale, Hamilton
Bronze Award: Tina Yi, Mairangi Bay Bakery, Mairangi Bay, Auckland
Mince and Cheese
Gold Award: Theara Keo, Taste Bakery and Roast, Henderson, Auckland
Silver Award: Kaing Sok My Bakery Cafe, Glen Eden, Auckland,
Bronze Award: Sopheap Long, Euro Patisserie Torbay, Auckland
Potato Top
Gold Award: Kaing Sok, My Bakery Cafe, Glen Eden, Auckland
Silver Award: Bun Heng Wong, Julia Bakery, Ellerslie, Auckland
Bronze Award: Patrick Lam, Patrick's Pie Group Limited, Tauranga
Steak and Gravy
Gold Award: Patrick Lam, Patrick's Pie Group Limited, Tauranga
Silver Award: Kaing Sok, My Bakery Cafe, Glen Eden, Auckland
Bronze Award: Jason Kupe, The Butchers Pie, Rolleston
Steak and Cheese
Gold Award: Tola Chhunleng, Freemans Bakery and Cafe, Glenfield, Auckland
Silver Award: Tina Yi, Mairangi Bay Bakery, Mairangi Bay, Auckland
Bronze Award: Shane Kearns, The Baker Tirau, Tīrau
Chicken and Vegetable
Gold Award: Buntha Meng, Wild Grain Bakery, Silverdale
Silver Award: Sopheap Long, Euro Patisserie Torbay, Auckland
Bronze Award: Chamnan Ly, Piefee, Auckland
Gourmet Meat
Gold Award: Arlyn Thompson, Rangiora Bakery for Slow Cooked Sumatra Style Beef
Silver Award: Jason Hay, Richoux Patisserie Ellerslie, Auckland for Maui's Mana Pie
Bronze Award: Srieng Choeu, Fresh Bun Cafe, Tuakau, Waikato for Scallop with Creamy White Sauce
Vegetarian
Gold Award: Patrick Lam, Patrick's Pie Group Limited, Tauranga for Stir Fried Vegetable with Potato
Silver Award: Songheng Sor, High Bakery & Cafe, Silverdale, Hamilton for Spinach, Mushroom and Onion
Bronze Award: Avina Tran, Paetiki Bakery, Taupō for Pumpkin, Broccolli, Potato and Mushroom
Café Boutique
Gold Award: Kerry Wellman, Leeves at Portstone, Christchurch 8023, New Zealand for Winter Pudding
Silver Award: Peggy Zhang, Kitchen Republic, Tauranga 3110, New Zealand for Sunday Rast - Lamb Pie
Bronze Award: Bridget Mcnaught, Relish Rangitikei, Hunterville for Slow Cooked Pork with Jalapeno
Commercial/Wholesale
Gold Award: Jason Danielson, Kaipai Bakery, Wānaka
Silver Award: Martyn Mayston, Bake Shack, Mount Maunganui
Bronze Award: Kerry Orchard, Gourmet Foods, Tauranga
