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In the early hours of June 18 bakers from around the country carefully packed their championship pies into heat-sealed, impact-proofed containers for a chance to win the industry's highest honour.
A panel of expert judges tested everything from the consistency of the filling to the crispiness of pastry in the search for Australia's Best Pie 2024 in Melbourne.
Meat pie cross section at the Baker's Association of Australia awards. File picture
Chief judge Stewart Latter from the Bread Basket bakery in the Hunter Valley said he had examined "the crust, texture and flavour of pies from all over Australia".
"There are 18 categories, It's everything from a good old meat pie right through to gourmet pies," he said.
Chief judge Stewart Latter. File picture
Mr Latter, a fourth-generation baker, has been judging the competition since 1986 and was crowned Champion Australian Breadmaker in 1992 for his sourdough.
The Bakers Association of Australia trade show, unlike many other competitions, shares judges' feedback with the entrants to help their baking improve.
It's useful feedback that encouraged Nick and Megan from motorbike museum and bakery Caffeine N Machine in Rutherglen to enter the competition for the second time.
Megan and Nick from Caffeine N Machine in Rutherglen. File picture
"You have to be able to eat your pie while you drive because 80 per cent of the pies you buy these days, the a-- end will fall out of them," the cafe owners said.
"We're not a big-scale bakery by any means, but we don't enter to win. We enter to get the critique notes to make our pies better."
They have continued to perfect their pie's consistency since they were awarded a bronze and silver medal by the association four years ago.
The pair walked away with an armful of medals for their pies in 2024.
Australia's Best Pie 2024 winners
Plain Mince Pie
Gold:
- Buddy Bakery, Melton Vic
Silver:
- Cottage Bakery
- Porter Avenue Pies and Cakes, Geelong Vic
Bronze:
- Crafers Bakehouse
- Piece of Cake Bakery
- Orbost Bakery - On The Snowy
- Meat U @ Home
- Tomkins Bakery Point Cook
- North End Bakehouse
- Inverleigh Bakehouse
- Caffeine N Machine
- Camperdown Bakery
Chunky Plain Beef Pie
Gold:
- Buddy Bakery, Melton Vic
Silver:
- Cottage Bakery
- Porter Avenue Pies and Cakes, Geelong Vic
- CJ's Bakery, Christies Beach SA
- Pik A Pie Bakery, Meadows SA
- New York Cakes, Miranda NSW
- Mooroopna Bakery, Mooroopna Vic
Bronze:
- Meat U @ Home
Flavoured Beef Pie
No gold awarded
Silver:
- Buddy Bakery, Melton Vic - Cheese and Beef
- Buddy Bakery Melton Vic - Chilli
- Porter Avenue Pies and Cakes, Geelong - Chunky Beef and Pepper
- Tomkins Bakery, Point Cook Vic - Curry
- Buddy Bakery, Melton Vic - Pepper
- New York Cakes, Miranda NSW - Pepper Steak
- Cottage Bakery - Pepper Steak
- North End Bakehouse - Pepper Steak
- CJ's Bakery, Christies Beach SA - Pepper Steak
- Mooroopna Bakery, Mooroopna Vic - Shepards Pie
- New York Cakes, Miranda NSW - Steak and Cheese
- Byron Gourmet Pies, Ballina NSW- Steak and Mushroom
- Pik A Pie Bakery Steak, Meadows SA - Cheese and Bacon
- Orange Pie Company, Orange NSW - Wagyu Steak in four peppercorn and brandy sauce
Bronze:
- Macintyre hot Bread - Cheese and Bacon
- Wandin Bakery - Chilli
- G.D. Pies - Chilli Beef
- G.D. Pies - Chunky Steak and Cheese
- Piece of Cake Bakery - Pepper
- Pik A Pie Bakery - Pepper
- Inverleigh Bakehouse - Pepper
- Caffeine N Machine - Pepper Steak
- Lynda's Bakery - Steak and Kidney
- G.D. Pies - Steak and Mushroom
Vegetarian Pie
No gold awarded
Silver:
- Crafers Bakehouse - Mushroom Ragu
- New York Cakes, Miranda NSW - Mixed Vegetable
- Country Cob Bakery - Curry Vegan
- Country Cob Bakery - Creamy Roast Vegetable
- Riddells Creek Bakery - Mushroom Stroganoff
- Wandin Bakery - Broccoli/Cauliflower
- Cottage Bakery - Plant Based Mince
- Orbost Bakery - On The Snowy - Peppery Cauliflower and Broccoli
- Porter Avenue Pies and Cake, Geelong - Vegetarian Butter Chicken
- Pik A Pie Bakery, Meadows SA - Cauliflower and Broccoli
- Pik A Pie Bakery, Meadows SA - Spiced Chickpea Lentil
Bronze:
- Lynda's Bakery - Vegetable Buddy
- Bakery Melton - Spinach and Ricotta
Seafood Pie
No gold awarded
Silver:
- The Waterview Bakery - Red Prawn and Mango Curry
- Country Cob Bakery - Prawn Tuscan
- Country Cob Bakery - Singapore Chilli Crab
- Buddy Bakery Melton - Creamy Salmon
- Buddy Bakery Melton - Surf and Turf
- CJ's Bakery, Christies Beach SA - Salmon and Asparagus
- Pik A Pie Bakery, Meadows SA - Tuna Mornay
Bronze:
- Cottage Bakery - Smoked Cheddar Mornay, Scallop, Mushy Pea and Pancetta
- Bruns Bakery - Garlic Prawn
- Pik A Pie Bakery - Salt and Pepper Squid
Poultry Pie
Gold:
- North End Bakehouse - Smokey BBQ Chicken and Ranch Potato Salad
- Country Cob Bakery - Malaysian Chicken
Silver:
- Lynda's Bakery - Satay Chicken
- The Waterview Bakery - Green Chicken Curry
- Piece of Cake Bakery - Chicken, Leek, Bacon, Mushroom
- New York Cakes Miranda NSW - Chicken and Leek
- New York Cakes Miranda NSW - Butter Chicken
- Country Cob Bakery - Roast Sesame Chicken and Mushroom
- Orange Pie Company - Butter Chicken
- Wandin Bakery - Butter Chicken
- Orbost Bakery - On The Snowy Country - Chicken and Vegetable
- Bruns Bakery - Thai Chicken
- Buddy Bakery Melton - Chicken and Vegetable
- Buddy Bakery Melton - Chicken Curry
- CJ's Bakery, Christies Beach SA - Chicken and Roast Vegetable
- Pik A Pie Bakery, Meadows SA - Chicken, Cheese and Bacon
- Pik A Pie Bakery, Meadows SA - Chicken and Vegetable
- Meat U @ Home - Free Range Chunky Chicken
- Caffeine N Machine - Chicken, Leek and Chardonnay
- Mooroopna Bakery, Mooroopna Vic - Pesto Chicken
Bronze:
- Riddells Creek Bakery - Chicken and Mushroom
- Inverleigh Bakehouse - Chicken and Leek
Mushroom Pie
Gold:
- Country Cob Bakery
Silver:
- Country Cob Bakery
- Orange Pie Company
- Porter Avenue Pies and Cakes, Geelong
- Tomkins Bakery Point Cook Vic
- CJ's Bakery, Christies Beach SA
- Pik A Pie Bakery, Meadows SA
- Buddy Bakery Melton - Chicken and Mushroom, Honey Soy Mushroom, Steak and Mushroom
Gourmet Pie
Gold:
- Country Cob Bakery - Jack Daniels Beef, Mac and Cheese
- Buddy Bakery Melton - Pizza Pie
- North End Bakehouse - Porky Mexican and BBQ Pulled Pork with Corn Salsa
Silver:
- Piece of Cake Bakery - Thai Chicken
- Country Cob Bakery - Braised Mushroom and Egg
- Orange Pie Company - BBQ Beef Brisket with Mac and Cheese
- Pie Addicts - The Sunday Roast
- Macintyre Hot Bread - Steak Dianne
- Bruns Bakery - Pulled Pork and Spicy Jalapeno
- Bruns Bakery - Brisket and Chorizo
- Porter Avenue Pies and Cakes, Geelong - Rabbit, Pancetta, Mustard
- Porter Avenue Pies and Cakes, Geelong - Keema Spiced Pie
- Buddy Bakery Melton - Ned Kelly
- Tomkins Bakery Point Cook Vic- Pepper
- Pik A Pie Bakery, Meadows SA - BBQ Beef and Hashbrown
- Caffeine N Machine - Beef and Smoky Bacon
- Mooroopna Bakery, Mooroopna Vic - Mac N Cheese
- Mooroopna Bakery, Mooroopna Vic - Razorback
- Mooroopna Bakery, Mooroopna Vic - Curried Sausages
- Country Cob Bakery - Lamb Rendang
Bronze:
- The Waterview Bakery - Sunday Roast
- Orange Pie Company - Small Acres Cider Pulled Pork
- Macintyre Hot Bread - Cob Loaf
- Tomkins Bakery Point Cook - Bacon and Cheese
- Pik A Pie Bakery - Aussie Burger
- Pik A Pie Bakery - Bangers and Mash
- Pik A Pie Bakery - Brekkie Pie
- Caffeine N Machine - Chunky Beef and Glazed Muscat
- Caffeine N Machine - Lamb and Rosemary
- Mooroopna Bakery - Lamb Jumbuck
Gluten Free Pie
No gold awarded
Silver:
- Heavens Bakehouse, Keilor East Vic - Breakie Pie
- Heavens Bakehouse, Keilor East Vic - Steak, Cheese and Bacon
Bronze:
- Heavens Bakehouse - Classic Beef Pie
- Heavens Bakehouse - Steak and Onion
- Meat U @ Home
Traditional Pastie
Silver:
- North End Bakehouse
Bronze:
- Buddy Bakery Melton
The Bakers Association of Australia trade show awards are held at the Moonee Valley Racecourse from June 18 to 20.
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