Pies are serious business, just ask the Baking Association of Australia. The team of experienced and well-respected experts just held their annual competition in search of Australia's best pie and pastie, and Kyneton's very own Country Cob Bakery has once again come out on top – which makes it three wins in a row.
In 2021 it was the caramelised pork and pepper pie that was deemed the best, while last year's winner was an Aussie classic: the plain meat pie. But what took the pastry crown in 2023, we hear you ask? The fish amok pie – a slightly unconventional, but undeniably tasty Cambodian-style creation made with barramundi and curry sauce.
The wins kept coming for Country Cob Bakery, with the fish amok pie also taking out the best seafood pie category, the black forest pie winning in the best mushroom pie category, and the pepper beef pie triumphing in the best flavoured beef pie. Phew, talk about a mouth-watering line-up.
"We finally did it," said owners Chan and Ryan Khun on Instagram. "We have just won the title of the 2023 Australia's Best Pie. After a tough three days of competition amongst 340 other bakeries across the nation, our fish amok pie took out the top gong for this year's competition."
The stakes are high when it comes to finding Australia's best pies and pasties. Winners are chosen from 348 bakeries, with more than 1,500 products presented for judging across three days.
Other Victorian champions include Rolling Pin Pies in Ocean Grove, which took out the best chunky plain beef pie and best poultry pie. The best pastie came from Samuel Gee Pies and Pastries in NSW.