Judges search for NZ's top pie

Pies are heated up before Judging gets under way in the annual Supreme Pie Awards. Photo / NZPA

Judges from across New Zealand are putting their taste buds to the test this week in the search for the country's top pie.

A total of 4336 pies has been entered from 386 bakeries, making the New Zealand Supreme Pie Awards the biggest food competition in the country by far, organisers said.

They also noted that just 500 pies were entered in a similar contest in Britain last year.

The competition has 11 categories of pies - mince and gravy; chicken and vegetable; gourmet meat; bacon and egg; gourmet fruit; steak, vegetable and gravy; steak and cheese; vegetarian; mince and cheese; seafood; and commercial pie.

A total of 21 judges mark the pies on their own criteria and then those scores will be collated across the category.

The individual category winners and the supreme pie will be announced next Tuesday, with the winning baker getting $7500.

Brook Kirk, who has been judging pies for the past seven years, he said the standard had improved steadily over that time.

He told NZPA the first thing the judges look for was the colour of the pie, and whether it was evenly baked and presentable.

From there, they looked at the structure of the pie and how the pastry was formed, to make sure that it's all even.

Then the pie was cut, to ensure the thickness of the pastry is correct and the filling is suitable.

If the pie scores highly in those categories, it goes through to the tasting stage.

Organisers said the presence of Asian bakeries in the event continued to grow dramatically.

Asian bakeries were responsible for just 5 per cent of entries 10 years ago. This year, the figure was 70 per cent.

"They seem to show a reasonable flair right across the range," he said.

"They also see the commercial value in winning something like this. It can make or break a business," he said.

- NZPA