In South Africa, I was traumatised by exposed to Mama's Pies and Big Jack pies. I have never fully recovered from the ordeals, and those experiences are probably the cause of my fear of flaky pastry and wholesale greasiness. Please excuse me, but I need to go outdoors for a few gulps of fresh air to recover from that memory.
In NewZealand, I was gradually introduced to a Kiwi tradition -- the Pie. In some circles, it can be seen as a way of life. If your supplier (and almost everyone can sell you a selection) runs out of stock of your favourite for the day, it is truly a personal disaster.
Which pie? In New Zealand, you can buy all sorts with a really huge range to suit the taste of the locals: conventional, weird and wonderful and specialty. Strangely, they use the term "butter" to mean "curried."
Myself, I prefer the Pepper Steak, but others include Mince and gravy, Diced Steak and gravy, Chicken and vegetable, Butter chicken, Chicken bacon and mushroom, Creamy chicken and mushroom, Thai chicken, Blueberry and spiced apple, Sherried pear and plum, Cointreau pear and apple cherry, Vanilla bean poached apple and salted caramel, Steak onion and garlic, Banoffee pie, Caramelized pear walnuts and blue cheese, Egg and spring onion, and other combinations of various vegetables for non-meat eaters.
Which pie? In New Zealand, you can buy all sorts with a really huge range to suit the taste of the locals: conventional, weird and wonderful and specialty. Strangely, they use the term "butter" to mean "curried."
Myself, I prefer the Pepper Steak, but others include Mince and gravy, Diced Steak and gravy, Chicken and vegetable, Butter chicken, Chicken bacon and mushroom, Creamy chicken and mushroom, Thai chicken, Blueberry and spiced apple, Sherried pear and plum, Cointreau pear and apple cherry, Vanilla bean poached apple and salted caramel, Steak onion and garlic, Banoffee pie, Caramelized pear walnuts and blue cheese, Egg and spring onion, and other combinations of various vegetables for non-meat eaters.
And today, the announcement came through on Breakfast TV -- Bakel's Supreme Pie of the year awards held in Auckland last night.
The categories under which bakeries have submitted entries include:
- Mince and Gravy
- Diced Steak and Gravy
- Chicken and Vegetable
- Gourmet Fruit
- Gourmet Meat
- Vegetarian
- Bacon and Egg
- Mince and Cheese
- Steak and Cheese
- Potato Top
- Commercial
- Cafe Boutique
- Supreme
The award of Supreme pie for 2015 went to the Potato Top pie, baked by Napier supermarket New World Greenmeadows, beating more than 5000 entries. The pie was described by judges as having the 'perfect ratio between a flavoursome filling, a super creamy potato top and a delicious pastry shell.'
If the results of the competition are anything to go by, then we don't live in a Champion Pie Area. Only two entries from the Wellington area made it to the podium. Winning pies are awarded in four categories: Gold, Silver, Bronze and Highly Commended.
In the Diced Steak and Gravy category, a baker by name of Roger Cathro of Petone branch of Pak n Save supermarket was awarded Highly Commended. And he won another commendation for his entry in the Gourmet Meat category with his Thai Chicken pie.
I must admit that, since coming to New Zealand, I have almost overcome all my pie demon fears of Big Jack origin, and have developed a taste for the occasional Pepper Steak pies sold at the BP Wild Bean cafes. I'll try to make a point of trying out Mr Cathro's winning steak and gravy creation when I get close to Petone.
No comments:
Post a Comment