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Popular bakery located on of Victoria The Bellarine Peninsula has been crowned the winner of Australia’s best pie in an entry that may surprise fans of the Aussie classic.
Rolling Pin Pies and Cakes, which has stores in Ocean Grove, Queenscliff and Geelong, was crowned the winner of the Bakers Association of Australia’s (BAA) Best Pie and Cake Competition in Melbourne last week.
Its shrimp laksa pie took first place, the win being the bakery’s third in four years.
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Despite previously winning the award in 2021 and 2022, Rolling Pin co-owner Nathan Williams told 7NEWS.com.au the result was a shock.
He said he’s sure the chicken pot pie will come out on top this year.
“For whatever reason, I was feeling chicken this year, so … I sent seven chicken pies (to the competition),” Williams said.
“I actually thought if I was going to do anything, it was going to be one of them.”
After not dedicating the time he normally would to perfect his pies before a competition, Williams said he came close to missing out on the winning pastry, but was convinced otherwise by his wife.
“Normally I’d like to spend, you know, a couple of weeks in a pie competition, just playing around and getting everything set up so that when I make this mixture that’s going to go into a pie, it’s going to be perfect, but this time I didn’t have this time,” he said.
“I looked back at some feedback from the last few races and … we were rated for stability, which basically means it’s too fluid.
“I did one test (of the mixture) and tried to thicken it more and it was so thick … I even told my wife I wasn’t going to send it, I put the pot back in the cool room and left there and the next morning we had enough room in one of the trays and my wife said, “You can’t lose. What will you lose by sending it?’.
“The rest is history.”
Williams admitted the seafood-flavored Asian pie is polarizing, but said those who have tried it have always provided great feedback.
S A Cambodian-inspired fish amok pie won the title last yearWilliams said Asian twists on traditional sweets are very popular right now.
“I feel like Asian-inspired flavors are definitely something that I think is trending.”
“You see them around more than you did a few years ago.”
Following the big win, the Rolling Pin has been busy with a wave of customers which Williams expects to continue as the Victorian school holidays approach.
“It’s a little overwhelming, but it’s just amazing for our business,” he said.
BAA chief executive Tony Smith said the Rolling Pin pie “stands out” against its competitors.
“We have to remember it’s not always mince pie as bakers and pastry chefs are pushing the boundaries now to get the best flavors and fillings,” he told 7NEWS.com.au.
The competition was held over three days, with 362 bakeries entering more than 2,400 pies and pastries to be “sampled, sampled and tasted” by a panel of judges, Smith said.
Each bakery submitted three pies, with one judged hot, one judged cold, and the third held in reserve for the final day of judging should they receive a gold medal in their category.
“The judges look at the pies cold … to see if the pastry is baked all the way through,” Smith said.
“The second pie is heated for aroma and flavor along with stability, nobody likes a runny pie.”
Shop 29 Bakery in Wendouree in Ballarat, Victoria won Australia’s Best Pasta.
Smith said the winning cake was a traditional Cornish cake which tasted “lovely” and was “perfectly put together”.
Rolling Pin took home an award for its wholegrain veggie bar after winning the veggie bar category.
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