A mouthwatering gourmet pie has taken the top honors at the prestigious Bakels Supreme Pie Awards, leaving judges in awe and delight.
The roast duck, onion, and mushroom pie with cheese sauce, crafted by Patrick Lam of Patrick’s Pies in Tauranga, was crowned the pie king at the awards ceremony held in Auckland on Tuesday night.
The judges had the task of sampling a staggering 5,000 pies across 11 categories, submitted by talented bakers from all corners of New Zealand. Among the sea of delectable creations, Patrick’s duck pie stood out with its perfect balance of flavors and a striking flying duck decoration adorning the pastry.
This is not the first time Patrick’s Pies has tasted victory at the prestigious awards. In fact, it marks the eighth time the bakery has claimed the top prize in the competition’s illustrious 25-year history.
Lam attributed the success of his award-winning pie to the creation of a new and innovative flavor, coupled with a “puffy and nice to eat” pastry that wowed the judges and elevated the pie to a league of its own.
Despite crafting pies every day, Lam modestly admitted to consuming only two or three of his own creations weekly. However, whenever he claims victory, his bakery experiences an enthusiastic influx of customers, with queues extending out the door.
