Over 500 bakers across the country are busy perfecting their recipes in the hopes of winning New Zealand’s coveted Supreme Pie Award trophy. With only 10 days to go, the countdown is now on to judging day (Thursday 16 July), when thousands of pies will be graded across 12 categories at Bakels New Zealand Headquarters in Auckland.
Also gearing up for the biggest food competition in the country is top NZ chef, food columnist and author Martin Bosley, pie-award veteran and Chief Judge Tim Aspinall and a panel of 20 industry experts.
The pies, which are all coded for “blind judging”, will be judged in the following categories: mince and gravy; steak; steak and cheese; chicken and vegetables; gourmet meat; vegetarian; bacon and egg; mince and cheese; gourmet fruit; café boutique; potato top pie; and commercial wholesale.
With over 378 entries in the Steak and Cheese category and over 340 in Mince and Cheese, judging will be challenging and the competition particularly fierce in these two categories.
After judging day, bakers will be waiting for the golden phone call, inviting them to attend the awards night. With 511 pie-makers vying for the top prize this promises to be a hot competition.
The baker of New Zealand’s top pie will take away the Supreme Pie Maker trophy and $7,500 cash, while Gold award winners receive $1000 cash.
Winners of the 2015 Bakels New Zealand Supreme Pie Awards will be announced at a gala dinner at Shed 10 on Tuesday 21 July.
